Manassas residents press council over proposed FY2026 tax, utility and budget increases

Manassas City Council on April 28 held consecutive public hearings on the proposed Fiscal Year 2026 real property tax increase, proposed personal property and utility rate changes, and the city’s operating budget and five‑year capital improvement plan. Dozens of residents testified, many urging the council to reduce or delay rate increases and to prioritize relief for residents, school staff and vulnerable households.

The hearings matter because the measures would affect the city’s property owners and utility customers directly, and the council framed the rate proposals as necessary to preserve city services and the long‑term financial stability of municipal utilities. Assistant staff told the council the electric utility has been charging rates below cost for several years and recommended multi‑year increases to restore sustainability; staff cited an illustrative plan that included roughly 8.5% increases in electric rates in successive years to close the gap.

Speakers at the hearings described the cumulative…