Heather Curtis
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON (WMAL) – Amazon, Google and Facebook aren’t paying their fair share of property taxes to Prince William County according to board of supervisors chair Corey Stewart. This week the board decided to hold off voting on Stewart’s proposal to increase taxes for data centers.

“Unfortunately it was a big win for Google and Facebook and Amazon, but it was a big loss for Prince William County residents,” Stewart said.

Data centers pay 1/3 of the property tax rate that residents pay according to Stewart. His proposal would increase taxes for the data centers while also giving residents a small property tax cut.

“My concern was that the chairman’s proposal to triple the technology tax on existing businesses in the county was going to send a chilling effect both on the ability of the existing businesses to expand, but, more importantly, on our ability as a county to bring news businesses into our community,” said supervisor Marty Nohe.

Nohe said Stewart’s proposal also would have tripled the tax rate on any other business in the county that uses technology of any type, including auto mechanics with diagnostic equipment.

Even though the board did not vote on the proposal Tuesday, Stewart said it could still be approved before the final budget vote next Tuesday.

Copyright 2018 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: Prince William Co. Board of County Supervisors)