To: Ascot Residents
From: Ascot Homeowners Association Board
Re: Possible Removal of Ascot from Small Tax District 5
Summary: Ascot has a one-time chance to remove itself from inclusion in a Reston-based tax district that supports the Reston Community Center through a property tax surcharge. The Ascot Board has voted to pursue this chance by speaking at an upcoming public hearing. You are invited to show your support by attending the hearing, which begins at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 27 at the Fairfax County Government Center. If you disagree with the Ascot Board's position -- or if you agree and would like to let us know or help us out -- please contact us.<
Since its inception, Ascot has been part of Small Tax District 5 (STD 5), which was created in 1975 by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to acquire, construct, maintain and operate the Reston Community Center (RCC) in the Hunters Woods neighborhood. Bonds used to finance construction of the RCC were paid off in the mid-1990s, but the tax district was never dissolved. Every household and business located within the tax district pays an extra $0.052 per $100 of assessed property value. Thus a home worth $1 million pays an extra $520 per year in property tax. Many residents are not aware that they pay this tax, because their property tax bills go directly to their mortgage companies. As a community, Ascot has paid at least a quarter of a million dollars over the last two decades to support the RCC through the property tax surcharge.
Due to tremendous business growth and escalating property assessments within STD 5, STD 5 generates surplus revenue -- well beyond what is needed to maintain and operate RCC-Hunters Woods and RCC-Lake Anne. This surplus is absorbed by the County General Fund and does not directly benefit STD 5.
The RCC is owned and staffed by Fairfax County; it is governed by a nine-member volunteer Board that is appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors after the residents and businesses of Small District 5 express their preferences in an annual poll. This preference poll typically gets extremely low turnout -- with only about one percent of eligible voters participating. Despite the low turnout, last year's poll resulted in appointment of several new Governors who want to take a fresh look at the Tax District.
In December 2005, RCC Board voted 4-4 to recommend aligning STD5 boundaries with those of the Reston Master Plan (i.e., the "main" part of Reston, whose homeowners association is the Reston Association). In February 2006, RCC Board conducted two public meetings to discuss the possibilities of boundary changes. From these meetings, it became clear that people living outside the Reston Master Plan would prefer to be removed from STD5.
On February 27, 2006, Hunter Mill District Supervisor Hudgins moved that the Board of Supervisors develop a proposed ordinance that would contract the boundaries of Special Tax District 5 so that the district would be wholly contained within the Hunter Mill magisterial district. Hudgins' motion also included an option to consider aligning the Tax District with the Reston Master Plan. The Board voted unanimously in favor of her motion; a public hearing is scheduled for March 27, 2006. The quick turnaround time is necessary in order to adjust tax bills before they go out.
The Ascot Board has researched and discussed this matter, and has voted 4-1 to speak at the upcoming public hearing in favor of removing Ascot from STD5. The pros: each household in Ascot will save $300-500 in its property tax bill this year and in coming years, yet will still have access to the programs and services of RCC, although they may be required to pay a slightly higher fee for some programs. Removing Ascot from STD5 also would strengthen this community's opposition to being included in a possible future Town of Reston; it also would strengthen the community's opposition to potential future school boundary changes. The cons: some of RCC's programs, such as children's summer camps, swimming classes, and Young Actors Theater fill quickly, and priority is given to STD5 residents and businesses.
Supervisor Hudgins will make her recommendation following the March 27 public hearing based on what she hears from citizens. The rest of the Board of Supervisors, per longstanding custom, will follow her lead. Thus it is critical that neighborhood HOAs, like Ascot's, participate and make their voices heard. The Ascot Board is coordinating with other neighboring HOAs to provide a unified voice. We hope you join us on March 27th. Again, if you have questions, thoughts, or opinions, please contact us.
Homeowners are welcome to contact the Board about community concerns. Send email to the Board, write to Ascot Homeowners Association, PO Box 934, Great Falls, Virginia 22066-0934, or contact any Board member.
