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Fairfax council approves 5% utility tax to fund restored police position after extended budget debate
Summary
After hours of public comment and a lengthy staff presentation on revenues and capital needs, the Fairfax Town Council voted 4–1 to set the utility users tax at 5% for fiscal 2025–26 to help restore a frozen police position and shore up the town's operating budget.
The Fairfax Town Council voted 4–1 Tuesday to set the town's utility users tax (UUT) at 5% for fiscal year 2025–26, a 25% increase from the current 4% rate, a move staff said will fund an unfrozen entry-level police position and reduce chronic overtime pressure in the department.
The Council adopted the rate after a long budget hearing that included a detailed presentation of revenue sources by Finance Director Michael Vifret and extended public comment. Vifret told the council the 5% cap in town code had previously existed and the tax could be set at that rate by council action; he said the town is projecting roughly $14.6 million in general fund revenues for the coming year and that the UUT increase would create an ongoing revenue stream to cover an unfrozen ongoing expense.
Vret said property tax remains the town's largest revenue source (roughly 58.6% of general fund receipts) and projected a small…
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