Arlington County Budget: Salaries, Tax Rates Likely to Increase

Good workers cost money.

It's a fact of life that most successful organizations in Northern Virginia have accepted, if not embraced.

In Arlington County, compensation is projected to account for about 56 percent of county operating expenses for the next spending cycle, which begins July 1.

Compensation is more than take-home pay; it also includes tax dollars the county spends on retirement, health insurance, worker's compensation and other areas — including about $2.5 million on commuting and transportation costs. But salaries account for the lion's share of compensation.

As the Arlington County Board hashes out its $1.1 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year, compensation is one of the priority areas officials have under the microscope.

Overall, County Manager Barbara Donnellan has proposed $9.3 million in cuts to balance the 2014 budget. Her proposal includes a 3.2-cent tax increase, though the board has given itself the authority to hike taxes by as much as 5 cents per $100 assessed value.

The average home in Arlington County is worth about $525,000. The owner of such a home would pay about $262 more annually under Donnellan's plan or $356 more each year if the board raises taxes the most it can.

Either way, the average homeowner is looking at a tax and fee burden next year of somewhere between $7,000 and $7,100.

On the Table: Pay Increases

Donnellan's proposal includes eliminating about 46 positions. Because of this, she has proposed step increases for county employees. Donnellan has said she wants to retain the talent Arlington has in its workforce and pay raises acknowledge the county is asking its employees to do more with less.

Step increases range from about 2 percent to 4 percent of an employee's salary. The average increase this year was 2.75 percent, said Jeanne Wardlaw, the county's Compensation Division chief.

Pay raises for county employees account for about $3.4 million in next year's proposed budget.

County staff are in the process of gathering data on the competitiveness of Arlington's salaries for a compensation presentation slated for an April 2 budget work session.

"It really varies, depending on what jobs you're matching," Wardlaw told Patch. "Some of our jobs may be a little bit ahead. Some may be a little bit behind. We think overall we're competitive."

The Arlington County Board will hold public hearing on its proposed budget at 7 p.m. Tuesday and a hearing on the tax rate at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Read more:

• Arlington County Full-Time Employee Salary Database
• Schools Ask Arlington County for Bigger Share of Tax Revenue
• Fewer Community Police Officers? Board Weighs Budget Proposal
• Jail Programs Suffer Due to Lack of Staff
• Arlington County Real Estate Taxes Could Increase by Up to 5 Percent

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