Loudoun supervisors forward motor vehicle license-fee amendment after public comment on taxes and spending

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 15 voted to forward an amendment to Chapter 852 of the Loudoun County codified ordinance, which would eliminate the county motor vehicle license (sticker) fee, to the next business meeting for action.

The board’s action followed a public comment from Jeb Benedict of Loudoun’s Future and a county finance staff explanation of how the change would be funded. Benedict told the board he supported eliminating the sticker fee but criticized county spending levels, saying, “Residential taxes have risen by a third since 2021, even while data center revenue has grown from 100 to 600,000,000.”

County staff said the proposed change would be paid from the county’s fund balance for the second half of fiscal 2025. A finance staff member summarized the county’s recent surplus and planned uses: “This year's annual surplus was 259,000,000. Out of that 259,000,000 we put the requisite by our fiscal policy, the requisite 10% into our reserve fund. We also put 69,000,000 in the capital budget asset and preservation program and debt service. We put 60,000,000 in fiscal reserve and stabilization funds. We put 9,700,000 to one-time LCPS capital projects. We put 105,000,000 to active capital projects, other contingency funds and the land acquisition fund.” The staff speaker also said the county is forecasting a 67¢ reduction in the vehicle tax in fiscal 2026 and proposed a further decrease in the real-estate tax of 2¢ pending budget deliberations.

Supervisor Kirschner made the motion to forward the amendment as provided in the meeting materials; Supervisor Crony seconded. The motion passed with the board recording the motion as passed (affirmative vote; two supervisors were off the dais). The motion text as read to the board was: “I move that the board of supervisors forward the amendments to chapter 852, the codified ordinance of Loudoun County, motor vehicle license fee as provided in attachment 1 to the January 21, 2025 Board of Supervisors business meeting for action.”

During discussion, Supervisor Birxford asked whether the change would be accomplished in calendar year 2025 and whether fund balance would cover it; staff confirmed it would be absorbed by other revenues that otherwise would have flowed to fund balance. Board members thanked the public speaker for participating. No members expressed opposition on the record during the public hearing.

The board did not adopt the ordinance at the public hearing; the action was to forward the amendment for formal consideration at the business meeting noted in the motion. The ordinance amendment and any implementing language will appear at that meeting; the county did not provide an ordinance number in the public hearing transcript.

Votes at a glance - Forward amendment to Chapter 852 (motor vehicle license fee) to Jan. 21, 2025 Board of Supervisors business meeting for action — motion made by Supervisor Kirschner, seconded by Supervisor Crony; motion passed (affirmative vote; two supervisors off dais).