Stauton City Councile recently approved a $94.2 million budget for the next fiscal year, according to the News Virginian.

The budget includes a 90-cent real estate tax, up 3 cents. This is obviously a concern to homeowners who will experience an increase in their real estate tax bill next year, however, hopefully the increased rates will help support services and programs that will improve the quality of living for Staunton residents.

"By a 5-2 vote, the Staunton City Council adopted on Thursday a $94.2 million fiscal year 2010 budget with a 90-cent real estate tax rate.

At the regular meeting in Staunton’s City Hall, Mayor Lacy King and Councilman Dickie Bell voted against the budget, both wishing to see a lower tax rate.

King said he realized the city could not equalize the tax rate because of an uncertain future with continued declines in state revenue – including a 21 percent drop in state tax revenue for April – that could force the city to cut its 2010 budget later this year. However, he believed the city could have cut the $177,629 necessary to reduce the tax rate from 90 cents per $100 of assessed value to 89 cents.

'I felt like we could have found one cent on the tax rate,' King said.

The tax rate represents a 3.4 percent tax increase over the revenue-neutral rate of 87-cents. The real estate tax bill on a $225,000 home will increase by $67.50 to $2,025 yearly.

Bell wanted an equalized tax rate of 87 cents to 'ease the burden' on residents. That rate would have necessitated further cuts of an additional $532,887. He said he could not support a 90-cent rate."

Read the full story.