Same Real Estate Tax Rate, Staff Pay Increases In Manassas City Budget

MANASSAS, VA — The newest proposed budget in the City of Manassas includes the same real estate tax rate, which would increase the average tax bill.

Police Chief Doug Keen, who served as the interim city manager before Steve Burke took office on Feb. 3, presented the fiscal year 2026 budget proposal to Manassas City Council on Monday. The $327.881 million budget would be a 1.7 percent decrease from last year's 333.58 million budget. That decrease was attributed to last year's budget using one-time funds for property acquisitions — the city purchased the former Marsteller School site and Manassas Shopping Center.

The real estate tax rate would stay at $1.26 per $100 of assessed value, which includes a $1.07 general fund rate and $0.19 fire and rescue levy. Due to increased assessment values, the average residential tax bill would increase by 7.59 percent, or $406, with the same tax rate. The average non-residential tax bill would jump 3.83 percent, or $945.

Manassas City Council will set its advertised tax rate, the highest rate that can be adopted during the budget process, on March 5.

According to assessment data, the average property value increased from $424,068 to $456,259 from the 2025 to 2026 fiscal year. That brings the estimated annual residential tax bill from $5,343 to $5,749.

Single-family home values increased from an average $527,035 to $565,736, a 7.34 percent increase. The increase was higher — 11.91 percent — for condos. The average condo value jumped from $286,570 to $320,699. Average townhouse values increased from $355,896 to $381,100, a 7.08 percent increase.

No changes to the solid waste or stormwater fees are proposed. There are 8.5 percent increases each proposed to electric and water rates, and a 3 percent increase to the sewer rate is proposed. The electric rate increase does not account for the Electric Power Cost Adjustment, and the sewer rate does not account for the Sewer UOSA Treatment Costs. Changes to electric, water and sewer rates are pending an ongoing rate study, which will be presented during a March budget work session. Keen said the utility increases are happening across the region, with some localities recommending 9 percent or more increases now and in the future.

The budget proposal seeks $70.4 million in funding for Manassas City Public Schools, $63.9 million of which is for operational support and $6.5 million is for current and future debt. MCPS would receive a $1,861,500 overall increase. Keen said the proposed MCPS budget increase is largely due to staff pay. The Manassas City School Board is expected to approve its budget on March 25 and present its adopted budget to City Council the next day.

City staff would receive a 3 percent merit pay increase as well as cost of living adjustment increases.

"Just like schools, employee retention ensures we can maintain the current service levels we have," said Keen. "The initial discussion in the region is a 3 to 7 percent raise, and we must remain competitive in the market."

Other key budget items are a new police officer for speed camera enforcement funded by speed camera revenue, a fire and rescue battalion chief funded by transport fee revenue, and a firefighter from the fire and rescue tax levy. Two additional firefighter positions are not funded under the budget proposal as it stands.

The budget proposal also includes a five-year capital improvement plan. The plan sets anticipated funding by year for projects such as Dean Park and Annaburg improvements, future funding for a Marsteller Park and Community Center, a fire station relocation to the future Marsteller Park, a new air traffic control tower and other Manassas Regional Airport improvements, reconfiguration of Mathis Avenue, and new traffic-calming projects on Liberia Avenue from Portner Avenue to city limits and Hastings Drive from Cloverhill Road and Dumfries Road.

The full budget proposal is available on the city's budget website.

Here is the upcoming budget schedule:

• Feb. 26, 5:30 p.m. - Budget Work Session - Tax Supported Funds (Operating and CIP)
• March 3, 5:30 p.m. - Budget Work Session - Tax Supported Funds (Operating and CIP)
• March 5, 5:30 p.m. - Budget Work Session - Determine Advertised Tax Rate
• March 12, 5:30 p.m. - Budget Work Session - Non Tax Supported Funds (Operating and CIP)
• March 19, 5:30 p.m. - Budget Work Session - Non Tax Supported Funds (Operating and CIP)
• March 26, 5:30 p.m. - Budget Work Session - City & Schools Joint Budget Work Session
• March 31, 5:30 p.m. - Budget Work Session - Council Requested Topics
• April 7, 5:30 p.m. - Budget Work Session - Council Requested Topics
• April 9, 5:30 p.m. - Budget Work Session - Council Requested Topics
• April 28, 5:30 p.m. - Public Hearing on the Updated Budget/ CIP/Revenue Rates
• April 30, 5:30 p.m. - Budget Work Session - Public Hearing Items/Outstanding Issues
• May 12, 5:30 p.m. - First Reading of Tax Rates & Other Rate Ordinances Adoption of the FY 2026 Budget & CIP
• June 9, 5:30 p.m. - Second Reading of Tax Rates & Other Rate Ordinances