HARRISONBURG, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – Harrisonburg city officials say that the speed camera system on East Market Street is achieving the desired result.

Public Works director Tom Hartman said during last night’s council meeting that although infraction rates have fallen, 3,000-3,500 drivers per month are still getting ticketed through the 25-mph construction zone.

Harrisonburg Police Sergeant Wayne Westfall added that all citations are subject to a thorough review.

“The same images that show up on the summons along with the video that’s available for the violator to go look at online, we received those,” Westfall said. “So, we look at the images we have some business rules in place expecting to see at least part of the car in the first image and all of the car in the second. And then we look at the video. So, does the video support what the summons is saying?”

Meanwhile, Harrisonburg Police Chief Kelley Warner revealed that local drivers are responsible for just 23 percent of these tickets.

Potential impact of higher tax rate

If the City of Harrisonburg moves forward with an eight-cent property tax hike in the new fiscal year, it will not be without opposition.

City Council is proposing raising the tax rate from 96 cents to a dollar and four cents per 100 dollars of assessed property value, which would help to cover a requested six-point-six-million-dollar increase in Harrisonburg City Public Schools’ operating budget.

City resident Cole Sprogum said during last night’s meeting that the move would likely hurt renters more than property owners.

“The anxiety that goes with that is real and palpable,” Sprogum said. “The higher tax costs, I believe – I’m not an economist – but I believe these costs inevitably just get passed down to the person that’s ultimately paying the rent.”

Council will vote on the increase at an upcoming meeting.