T
he Purcellville Town Council voted to adopt a real estate tax rate of 19.2 cents per $100 of assessed value, a decrease from the proposed 20.5 cents by Interim Town Manager Kwasi Fraser. This decision was made after the council kicked off its budget season with a presentation for the 2026 fiscal year's $35.9 million budget. A penny on the tax rate is equivalent to $214,000 in revenue, and the current 20.5-cent rate would bring in more revenue due to increased property values.

    Assistant Director of Finance Connie LeMarr stated that the average homeowner's bill would increase by $81 a year due to valuation increases. Councilmember Susan Khalil proposed adopting the equalized rate, which keeps bills unchanged on average, citing relief for residents and business owners. However, council members Kevin Wright, Erin Rayner, and Caleb Stought expressed concerns about making operational cuts to offset the decrease in projected tax revenue.

    LeMarr estimated that cutting $279,000 from the budget would be necessary if the council adopted the 19.2-cent rate. Councilmember Kevin Wright warned that failing to make these cuts could lead to drawing more money from the town's reserve fund to balance the budget. The council ultimately voted 4-3 in favor of the 19.2-cent tax rate, with Stought, Rayner, and Wright opposed.

    A chart included in the proposed budget shows a steady increase in median home value for town residents from 2013 to 2023. During the meeting, audience members expressed concerns about the council's decision-making process, with one member stating that they were not listening to resident concerns. Council members defended their decision, citing the need to balance the budget and the relatively small impact of the rate decrease on the overall budget.