HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — Taxes against Harrisonburg property owners may climb again as city officials look to cover operating costs for the new Rocktown High School.

City Manager Ande Banks said on Early Mornings today that the city’s proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year includes an eight-cent property tax increase – from 96 cents to 1-04 per 100 dollars of value.

Banks said that the hike will offset Harrisonburg City Public Schools’ request for an additional six-point-six-million-dollars for the upcoming school year, adding that the money has to come from somewhere. “I’m a product of Harrisonburg City Schools, and they do a great job. But we also need to remind ourselves that, you know, many services here in the local government–that’s a mandate coming down to us from Richmond to provide a public education, for which they do not fully fund, and the portion that they do not fully fund, falls on the residents of Harrisonburg.”

The community is invited to speak about the proposed increase during tonight’s City Council meeting at 7 o’clock.