Manassas council sets FY2026 real estate and personal-property tax rates; budget moves to June adoption

The Manassas City Council on first reading set the real estate tax rate for tax year 2026 at $1.26 per $100 of assessed value and approved the companion personal‑property tax rates needed to support the city’s $327.9 million fiscal year 2026 budget.

Council members voted on the measures after extended debate over reserve levels, school compensation and the level of services the budget must maintain. The real estate ordinance passed on a 5‑1 roll call (Vice Mayor Wolf: yes; Councilman Smith: yes; Councilwoman Ellis: no; Councilman Ocina: yes; Councilwoman Vasquez Luna: yes; Councilwoman Hudson: yes). The personal‑property ordinance passed unanimously among voting members present.

The tax rate decision preserves the flat rate city staff proposed and funds priorities included in the FY2026 proposal. City Manager Steve Burke notified the council earlier that the second reading and final adoption are scheduled at a special meeting on June 2 (public hearings) with second reading and adoption at the council meeting on June 9.

Council debate and numbers Councilwoman Ellis said she voted against keeping the rate flat and urged larger reductions, saying she had proposed removing roughly $4 million from the proposed budget and returning $2,150,000 in unassigned revenue (described in the meeting as equivalent to about three cents on the tax rate) to reduce bills. Ellis said the city’s general‑fund reserve (discussed in the meeting at about 20 percent, with a commonly recommended minimum of 15 percent) and capital reserves (cited during the meeting as about $23 million) could support some one‑time relief. Ellis also urged departments to identify cuts and asked schools to reconsider salary formulas.

Councilwoman Vasquez Luna and other supporters said the adopted rate maintains investments in schools and public safety while avoiding service cuts. Vasquez Luna summarized the budget as a $327.9 million package that includes a 3 percent merit/step program for staff, additional school compensation (council discussion named a $1.5 million increase for school pay), and additions to public‑safety staffing. Council members noted the budget would add five full‑time public‑safety positions (the meeting referenced three firefighter positions specifically), three part‑time positions at the Manassas Community Center, and line items for equipment replacement including a referenced Medic Unit 501B and pavement replacement projects.

Personal property and data‑center equipment On personal property, the council approved rates that also affect computing equipment; staff and council discussed raising the tax on data‑center computer equipment to roughly $3.60 per $100 assessed value (compared in the meeting to a business computer rate of about $2.15). Council members warned that revenue from data centers is uncertain and that ownership and leasing arrangements can affect what the city ultimately collects.

What happens next These ordinances represent the first reading and direction to publish and hold statutory public hearings. The council scheduled supplemental public hearings and a special meeting on June 2 with final votes expected at the June 9 meeting. If adopted, the rates will take effect for tax year 2026 and support the FY2026 operating and capital plans in the budget as described by staff during the hearing.

Votes at a glance - O2025‑5798 (uncodified ordinance): Sets tax year 2026 real estate tax rate at $1.26 per $100. Mover: Vice Mayor Wolf. Second: Councilman Smith. Roll call: Wolf yes; Smith yes; Ellis no; Ocina yes; Vasquez Luna yes; Hudson yes. Outcome: passed (first reading). Notes: 5–1 vote; second reading and public hearings scheduled for June 2 and June 9. - O2025‑5799 (uncodified ordinance): Sets personal property tax rates supporting FY2026. Mover: Vice Mayor Wolf. Second: Councilman Smith. Roll call: unanimous among voting members present. Outcome: passed (first reading). Notes: includes higher assessed rate for data‑center computer equipment (discussed in meeting as approximately $3.60 per $100 assessed value).

Council statements quoted in this article come from the council meeting transcript; direct quotes and vote tallies are recorded from roll call taken during the meeting. The measures move to required public hearings and the second reading before final adoption.

Ending The council framed the vote as balancing taxpayer concerns with funding for schools, public safety and infrastructure; final adoption is expected after the scheduled public hearings in early June.