Relief offered on vehicles, all other tax rates remain the same; adjustments planned for second half of FY26 to equalize increase from new assessments
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, April 21 — Although the county advertised no changes in the tax rates for the upcoming fiscal year, the Page County Board of Supervisors decided to lower the levy on personal property at its regular April meeting.
Once a tax rate is advertised to the public, supervisors cannot approve a higher rate, but they can lower it.
“I hope to give some relief on personal property,” stated District 2 Supervisor Allen Louderback. “With reassessment coming, I think we especially need to do something.”
Louderback then made a motion to reduce the tax rate on personal property (vehicles) from $4.40 per $100 of assessed value, to $4.30 — and keep all other tax rates the same:
- Real estate — $0.73, per $100 of assessed value;
- Machinery and Tools — $1.50, per $100 of assessed value;
- Motor Carrier — $1.50, per $100 of assessed value;
- Aircraft — $0.50, per $100 of assessed value.
The motion was unanimously approved, setting the tax rates and giving county staff firm figures to complete the budget process.
Given the anticipated impact of higher assessed values on real estate going into effect on Jan. 1, 2026, county staff based the current proposed budget for FY26 on a much lower tax rate for the second half of the fiscal year. Any rate change must be advertised, a public hearing held, and a vote taken by the board. However, for budgetary planning purposes only, staff based second half revenues on a real estate tax rate of 65 cents (per $100 of assessed value) — an 11-percent reduction.
About a half dozen speakers addressed the board during a public hearing on the proposed $92.8 million spending plan for FY26. Every speaker, except one, focused on the need to fund programs dealing with the community’s drug and addiction problems.
The board is slated to make a final vote on the budget in May. The county and the school division are anticipating a final version from the state this week, potentially being signed off on by Governor Youngkin.
The school system is projected to receive an increase of about 5.4 percent for operations, from $42.6 million to $44.9 million with increases in both state and local funding.
General Fund revenues and expenditures are projected to increase 2.5 percent, from $33.9 million to $34.8 million. Capital improvements are slated to be cut by 43 percent, dropping from $2.7 million during the current fiscal year, to $1.6 million in FY26. The significant drop can be credited, in part, to the completion of the regional broadband project. An 11-percent increase is proposed in Tourism spending, from $1,080,000 to $1.2 million.
For the full Agenda and supporting documents from the April 21 meeting
of the Page County Board of Supervisors, CLICK HERE.
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I don’t want to sound ungrateful but the marginal decrease in personal property tax will hardly help us seniors and young people who struggle to pay this tax. I think a better solution would be to eliminate the personal property tax completely and add a tax at the pump. Considering that tourists are a large part of our county’s economy this might be just enough to offset this burdensome tax.
No offense intended, Sherry, but “at the pump” would impact everyone (Lawn mowing businesses, commuters, farmers, etc..). I’m more concerned that the newest assessment is much bigger than anyone expects. I was questioned by the 3rd party property assessor about a heat pump I had to replace 4 years ago and my neighbor was questioned about a roof replacement done 6-7 years ago.
I understand Paula, but getting hit a little at the pump would not seem to hurt as much as the two large tax hits we get each year, especially the one during the December holiday season. I would even be in favor of increasing our sales tax a little if it removed the personal property tax. This tax is such a hardship on our family, especially since we have to help our adult children to pay it as well.
Sherry, I thank you sincerely for opening a discussion. I chose this county as my retirement destination based on it’s affordability. Within months of moving in, COVID hit and I was slapped with a large increase increase in property taxes because it took “them” (whoever was responsible) 15 years to discover the house was built larger (1512sf versus 1288sf) than it was on the tax rolls for. I moved here from NY, where seniors where get tax breaks through a programs (star). I’m driving a 17 year old car and only putting 2,000 miles A YEAR ON IT. Yes, I should be exempt from personnel property tax. What really gets my dander up is that in my sub division, new homes continue to be built, with relators ads stating the taxes as what they where for a vacant lot. Not reveling what the lot it worth with a new home built on it.
Some things need fixing.
I ask all who read my comments to excuse the typos. I see them and I cringe in embarrassment. I’ll stand by my belief that so much is far from perfect here. Can’t we work together to make Page County a good place to live?