Woodbridge, Virginia (March 31, 2005) – In response to overwhelming concern regarding the growing property tax burden in his district, Delegate Jeff Frederick today announced his proposal to cap property taxes in the Commonwealth.

"Property tax increases has consistently been a concern among my constituents, but now, it is consistently the top concern I'm hearing from families and seniors as I go door-to-door in my district," Frederick said.

Mr. Frederick's three part plan centers on an acquisition based property tax system rather than the current market value based system. It would reset property assessment values and the tax rate to those on record one year prior to passage of the legislation, which would be in the form of an amendment to the state's constitution. Increases in property value assessments would then be limited to one-percent plus inflation each year from the baseline year until the property is sold or improved upon, then establishing a new baseline year. The plan also puts a one-percent cap on growth of the tax rate.

Mentioning the virtual property tax revolt occurring in the late 1970's in California, Frederick believes we are on the verge of one in Virginia because the current system is too uncertain and unpredictable for families to manage, especially when their taxes are rising far faster than their income. "Government can't keep taking all it wants -- it's the people's money, and their tired of government making it harder for them to run their households and support their families. People have had to cut their family budgets year after year to pay skyrocketing property taxes, and they are telling me there is just no more room to cut. Seniors on fixed incomes are faced with the choice of forgoing food and medicine or being taxed out of their homes," he said.

Frederick gave real examples for homes in his district. A home in Woodbridge valued at $102,300 in 2001, $166,100 in 2004, and currently assessed at $266,400 would save $923.72 under his plan, and the following year, property taxes would increase by only $67.92. For a home in north Woodbridge valued at $187,100 in 2001, $296,300 in 2004, and currently assessed at $392,600 would save $763.74 under the plan, and the following year, property taxes would increase by only $121.16. A home in Montclair valued at $341,300 in 2001, $554,700 in 2004, and currently assessed at $675,700 would save $795.47 under the plan, and the following year, property taxes would increase by $226.82.

Delegate Jeff Frederick represents the 52nd House district which includes all of Quantico, Dumfries, Triangle, Montclair, a small part of Manassas, and most of Woodbridge, Virginia.