Fairfax will increase its utility users tax by a percentage point, bringing it back to its original rate of 5%, in order to fill a police officer position.

The Town Council voted 4-1 to raise the tax at its meeting on June 4.

“This is a simple thing,” Councilmember Barbara Coler said. “I think it’s between 3 and 7 in the morning we have one police officer on, and it’s time to fill that position. I am completely supportive of going up to the 5%.”

The setting of annual tax rates — the special municipal services tax, the utility users tax, the pension tax, the stormwater pollution prevention fee and the Measure K bond assessment tax — is usually routine and done in one fell swoop. However, during a budget workshop in April, some council members noted that raising the utility tax could enhance revenue enough to unfreeze an entry-level police officer position.

The utility user tax is applied to electricity, gas, water and telecommunications services. It was originally set at 5% but lowered by the Town Council in subsequent years. The increase from 4% to 5% is expected to bring the town an extra $125,000 in annual revenue.

The police officer position, which has been unfilled and unfunded since about 2008, is expected to cost around $130,000. Councilmember Frank Egger said he would only support raising the utility tax if it would go to filling the position.

Town Manager Heather Abrams confirmed it would go directly toward the position. She said the police position is an ongoing expense so there needs to be ongoing revenue to support the position, and the utility tax is a steady source.

Under town code, the utility user tax is limited to $360 per account per fiscal year. Residents have 15 days after June 30, the conclusion of the fiscal year, to request a refund if they paid over that amount. Residents can also prepay the full cap amount ahead of time.

“We’re going to have to get the message out to the folks that live here who pay the utility user tax that there is a limit,” Egger said.

Councilmember Michael Ghiringhelli voted against the tax increase, saying people could be getting “ripped off” because they were unaware of the tax cap.Abrams said the information could be put in a town newsletter, and pointed out that the expected revenue from the tax increase is “conservative.”

“This doesn’t make any sense to me,” Ghiringhelli said. “It’s not about 4% or 5% to me, it’s about what’s fair.”