Winchester council sets 79.5¢ property tax rate, approves traffic-camera ordinance and authorizes Millwood easements

Winchester City Council on April 8 set the real-estate tax rate for calendar year 2025 at 79.5 cents per $100 of assessed value after an extended public hearing and subsequent council debate and votes.

The vote followed more than an hour of public testimony in which residents, business owners and education advocates urged the council to adopt a rate that would fully fund schools, public safety and other city priorities. Stewart Island, a member of the Winchester Public School Board, told council, “Our public schools are the beating heart of this amazing community.” Several residents urged a full 80-cent rate; others and multiple councilors warned about the strain of higher taxes on households with fixed or modest incomes.

City Manager Dan Hoffman told council staff had built a budget around a 79-cent rate that would include two police officers, a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for city employees and, with some additional federal revenue, four firefighters. “At the 79¢ rate we have been able to put together a budget that provides the 2 police officers, the 3% COLA, and just this morning … we can get 4 firefighters,” Hoffman said. With the council’s final decision to adopt 79.5¢, staff reported roughly…