Supervisors set tax rate at 97 cents

By CHERYL K. CHUMLEY, Potomac News & Manassas Journal Messenger
Published: April 30, 2008

By a vote of 8-0 on Tuesday, Prince William supervisors approved a fiscal year tax rate of 97 cents per $100 of assessed value.

The motion, which was explained by Chairman Corey Stewart, R-at-large, following a lengthy board break about 9 p.m., carried with it a shift in illegal immigration enforcement policy.

"Every single person who is arrested will have their immigration status checked," he said, adding that "not ever person who is arrested is brought to jail. The officer would continue to have the discretion to check immigration status of any person who's detained."

Still, probable cause is not to be the standard for officers to use, Stewart continued.

"Because we are checking the status of every single person who is arrested as opposed to just those people who we have probable cause … I actually believe this may increase the number of people whose immigration status is checked," he said.

His comments and the board's subsequent 8-0 adoption of the modified immigration policy came after 10 p.m.—at the tail end of a meeting that started at 2 p.m. with an agenda of adopting a tax rate. More than 120 people spoke over six hours as a marathon citizens' time dominated the meeting at the McCoart Administrative Center.

It may have taken hours to reach consensus on a tax rate. But what was agreed on in quick time was the fate of Supervisor Frank Principi's, D-Woodbridge, proposed resolution rescinding portions of the county's immigration policy. That proposal—which was tied to his motion for the county to adopt a 97-cent tax rate—died with a 7-1 vote. But had it passed, the direction of county illegal immigration enforcement policy would have changed dramatically.

Current directive is that police "inquire into the citizenship or legal status of individuals [detained] in the course of their duties if there [is] probable cause," Principi's resolution read. The proposed change would have inserted this text instead: "Police officers are not to be mandated by the department's policies to inquire into immigration or citizenship status."

His plan called for immigration status checks at the jail, following arrest.

Interviewed during a break before the vote was taken, Principi agreed the policy shift was substantial, but said much of the citizen outcry against the supposed gist of his plan this past week—prior to the release of any actual written resolution—could be attributed to blog entries that wrongly characterized his intent.

"Surely this would be a substantial change in policy, but it would also strengthen the policy … at the [Adult Detention Center]," he said. And those who suggest his plan ignored the will of voters in October to allow police to check the immigration status of suspects are full of "hogwash," he continued, and purposely misconstruing his goals.

"That's put out by [Help Save Manassas president] Greg Letiecq and his blog as a means of discredit-ing me," Principi said.

Letiecq countered that point by reminding of the three separate voter-backed resolutions that had passed regarding the illegal immigration policy—one to adopt the policy, another to endorse its implementation and still another to provide mid-year funding.

"How anyone could consider that gutting the rule of law resolution doesn't fly in the face of a clear conviction of voters is beyond me," he said.

Before considering Principi's resolution and accompanying rate, supervisors Tuesday also debated a rate of 98.7 cents brought forth by Stewart and seconded by Vice Chair John Stirrup, R-Gainesville. The rate allowed for the re-insertion of the $3.1-plus million police vehicle camera program back into the budget—and gave rise to a 180-degree switch in policy support from Stewart.

"I have voted against every tax increase … since I was elected," Stewart said. "I think this [ille-gal immigration] resolution is vitally important. It's making a difference … and we need to do it right. We cannot leave our officers exposed [to legal liability]. I think cameras would be a good thing."

For weeks, Stewart has discounted the importance of the county funding cameras in this year's budget, push-ing instead for the board to seek outside sources of grant dollars. He has also supported passage of a flat tax, or as close to 95 cents as possible.

However, after explaining the discussions he has held with various police groups and officials, he said on Tuesday, "I will support 98.7 cents if it funds cameras and [the six] additional officers."

The 98.7 cents also gave the schools an additional $5 million of funding to "spend however they wish," Stewart explained.

If supervisors did not agree to fund the camera program, however, Stewart stipulated he would not go along with that tax hike, which translates into an estimated 31 percent increase in bills to commercial and 6.9 percent rise in bills on residential.

Stirrup seconded, but only supervisors Maureen Caddigan, R-Dumfries, and Wally Covington, R-Brentsville,  voted in favor; a tie vote results in the failure of the motion.

Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-670-1907.