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 By Nate Pentecost

The K-V Dispatch

Should Lunenburg County raise property taxes? That’s what residents had a chance to voice their opinion on Tuesday night, as supervisors held a public hearing on the tax proposal. 

It’s a case of positives versus negatives. On the one hand, the current real estate assessment found that property values increased 27% in Lunenburg County, rising to $1,213,946,300 compared to $954,775,100 in 2023. The figure and the proposed tax increase exclude new construction and property improvements. 

“The Board of Supervisors has not had a Reassessment since 2018,” Lunenburg County Administrator Tracy Gee said. “Over the last six years the housing industry has seen a balloon in real estate sales and construction costs.”

According to the Code of Virginia, counties in the Commonwealth with a population of 50,000 or less like Lunenburg County must conduct a general reassessment of real estate at either five-year or six-year intervals. Taxes are then calculated by $100 of assessed value. 

In response to the Lunenburg County property value increase, the County’s proposal calls for a $.03 increase per $100 of real estate property value assessed from 2023’s tax rate ($0.30/$100) to the proposed rate of ($0.33/$100) for 2024. The $.03/$100 property tax increase is meant to generate the additional 10% in property tax collection in Lunenburg County for the 2024 fiscal year. It should be noted individual property taxes may increase at a lower or higher rate. 

RISING NEEDS

Gee said the county needs extra revenue to address needs. 

“The County budget has rising needs for public health and safety initiatives. The overall increase in values is 27%,” Gee said. “The Board has advertised a rate of $0.33 per $100, which would assist the Board in providing timely assistance to public safety and health initiatives.”

The Code of Virginia states a person or organization claiming to be aggrieved by the property value assessment can file with the Board of Equalization within 30 days of the assessment for a correction of the assessment. 

Gee, a graduate of Central High, has worked for the County since 2008. In 2012 she took over as Lunenburg County Administrator. As such, Gee also serves as Clerk to the County Board of Supervisors. Among the primary purposes of the position is developing a budget to present to the board. 

A PUBLIC RESPONSE

Gee said the County has received a public response related to the property tax increase proposal prior to this week’s scheduled public hearing. An estimated 20 property owners already made appointments with the Board of Equalization to further request reduction in their assessments. She said the County received a similar number of appeals after the 2018 assessment.

The tax rate change would be made effective for the 2024 calendar year. A separate proposal and hearing could be held for 2025 and forward should the County determine budgetary needs require a rate adjustment. 

In 2023, Virginia ranked outside the highest 15 property tax rates by state according to a study by Forbes. National studies from preceding years are consistent with these figures. In Lunenburg County, the property tax rate is below the average figures for the Commonwealth. 

“This (proposal) will be up to the Board of Supervisors,” Gee said. “But they did choose to advertise at the proposed rate of $0.33/$100.”