Sunday, March 14, 2010; C12

VIRGINIA

Arlington's commercial property owners must now remove snow from public sidewalks or face fines up to $100, as required by a new county ordinance.

The new law does not include residential areas.

The Arlington County Board voted Saturday to enact the temporary emergency ordinance. A permanent one is set to be discussed in April.

Businesses and owners of condominiums and rental properties with at least four units in commercially zoned areas must clear snow of two inches or more within 24 hours of a snowfall. The elderly and physically disabled are exempt.

-- Christy Goodman

The Alexandria City Council voted Saturday to propose a tax rate of 99.3 cents per $100 of a property's assessed value, a nearly 10 percent increase over the current rate of 90.3 cents. The tax bill for an average residential property, valued at $447,873, would increase by $193.

Council members said they needed flexibility in dealing with uncertainties in the budget, such as state cuts and the city's Metro contribution.

The council also voted to propose an additional 3 cents to the real estate tax for commercial and industrial properties, which would be dedicated to transportation projects.

City Manager James K. Hartmann proposed a 7-cent increase in the rate in February to help fill a $44 million budget gap.

The city's $534.1 million budget, a 3.5 percent decrease from fiscal 2010, cuts 67 full- and part-time city employee positions, only 10 of which are currently filled. The proposed budget also includes a 2 percent increase, or $3.3 million, in funding for Alexandria public schools.

By law, the city cannot adopt rates higher than the ones advertised, but it can adopt lower rates. The board will hold several public hearings and work sessions before voting on the rate and budget in May.

-- Christy Goodman