Supes talk taxes
VERONA — The Augusta County Board of Supervisors voted Monday to advertise a 2009-10 budget that features a reduced tax rate for county residents of 48 cents per $100 of assessed value, 10 cents lower than the current rate.
The supervisors have said all along that they would offer a tax rate to minimize the effects of the county’s reassessment, which continues to be the subject of controversy.
There is a potential lawsuit against the county to set the reassessment aside and a recall petition effort against supervisors, citing their negligence and incompetence.
South River Supervisor David Beyeler said Monday that supervisors should offer a 49-cent rate, saying that using money from the county’s fund balance to support a 48-cent rate was not wise.
“At 49 cents, 40 percent of the people will pay less taxes than they are today,” Beyeler said.
Riverheads Supervisor Nancy Sorrells supported Beyeler’s motion.
Pastures Supervisor Tracy Pyles said the board had promised a revenue-neutral tax rate and that a rate of 48.2 cents would allow for that.
Board Chairman Larry Howdyshell expressed support for a revenue-neutral tax rate, but said he did not want to jeopardize basic services.
The board voted to go with the lower rate of 48 cents.
As of now, the 48-cent tax rate would support a general fund budget of about $74 million.
The budget will go to public hearing April 29, and could be approved May 6.
The budget reflects the current economic crisis. Salaries are frozen for 2009-10 and the county’s finance director forecasts that Augusta County will have a drop in revenue next fiscal year of more than $3.6 million because of less money coming from personal property taxes and investment income.
Openings due to layoffs and unfilled jobs are among the 19 positions that will not be included in next year’s budget.
Five of the proposed 10 layoffs include part-time library aides and two are in the county’s building department, where an office assistant and inspector would not be retained.
County Administrator Pat Coffield said the building department cuts are because of the reduced sales of new housing in the county.
Coffield said grant funding could help offset the library cuts, and Sorrells said those cuts would come at a time “when library use is soaring.”
Supervisors sparred verbally during Monday’s budget meeting over whether to include an economic development office and director in next year’s budget.
Pyles said the most important responsibility is to provide county residents fire and rescue services so that if a resident “calls 911, someone shows up.”
Of the economic development director, Pyles said that, considering the county’s other needs, “it will strike people as odd to do this now.”
Middle River member Gerald Garber said the timing for the position is criticxal.
“I’m concerned about jobs and small businesses,” he said. “We spent a ton of money studying economic developent.”
Garber said Augusta County needs a “cheerleader for people and businesses in this county”
Supervisors voted 5-2 to fund the position in next year’s budget. While the initial funding for the economic development office is $166,089, about a third of the money is being carried over from the current year’s budget.
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When the property is in a flood zone that is not recognized by the government, then being refused insurance by three different companies it is hard to protect yourself from crooks. When the local courts are corrupt and cause further problems yes you do have reason to get mad. Loosing the election? I have to laugh at that, I sent Fisher a strong message that not everyone in this county is afraid of his intimidation tactics. Without help I ran against him on a $700 budget and managed to pull close to 2000 votes out of a total of 12000 cast. Many people didn’t know who I was but voted for me just because they are tired of someone that has failed them.
As a write off yes it has been done at the original value of $81,000 because of its complete destruction and worthless value.
As far as what goes on in this county you claim you know everything and looking through your rose colored glasses it just is pretty as a picture. Believe me I have also lived in different states including Detroit, Michigan, back in the 60’s-70’s and the corruption wasn’t nearly what it is here.I can go down a long list of corruption but I think I would be wasting my time. Being that you have lived here most of your life and I have been here 20+ years It seems to me that your comfort zone is built upon just being naive and you fit right in with the Good Old Boys. You deserve what you get.
Richard 1:
I cannot speak to your specific situation. If the figures are as you say, it would seem you would have an excellent shot at a new assessment before the Circuit Court. Indeed, it is hard for me to understand why you have not already gone to court. I too own rental property, but I carry insurance against tenant damage. So far, actually, I have been adept at choosing tenants who take care of the property.
Were I you, I believe I might consider just donating this land that is obviously worthless to a local charity and moving on. Since the assessment is much higher than the value you put on it, you can legally take the assessed value as your value and write it off your taxes. I would imagine you would get a lot more than $5,000 in value that way.
Scientifically it is difficult for anyone to actually see a pimple on the end of their nose, unless it is a very protrubing snoz. I know as much of your facial skin condition as you do of mine, but I can see quite clearly that you have a very large chip on your shoulder. I can understand how losing an election and fighting bureaucracy can cause that, but it does color your perspective on the county. Despite your assertions, I do have a good idea of what goes on in the county, and how this process works. I just tend to disagree with you.
I too have had family in Augusta County since the 1700s, and I plan to die here. However, if you are as unhappy here as you indicate, a move may be a good idea. I have lived in several other states during my life, however, and I have found none that have any less governmental hassles than Virginia. Good luck.
Countysage; I would venture I have more experience in law than you may think. I am a former police officer and correctional officer and private investigator. The latter two in the State of Virginia. Also a candidate for sheriff in 2003 against Fisher.
I also believe that if you had a giant pimple on the end of your nose you wouldn’t see it just like you make assumptions that everything that the BOS and BOA along with BRMA are all above board. In no way will I accept the assessment of my property that is condemned by the county and Board of Health (because of destruction done by tenants)where it isn’t worth fixing ($50,000 in damages) but they upped the assessment to $47,000 when it wouldn’t sell on the court house steps for $5,000. After my appeal they play a little numbers game. They raised my property land value (2005) at $21,900 up to $39,400. More numbers game on improvements (2005) at $20,700 down to $1,000 All total they lowered my total tax from (2005) $42,600 to $40,400 a total of $2,200 on property that won’t sell for $5,000 which I have proof of. At the present rate of .58 on 100 that is a total savings of $13 at a rate of .48 per $100 a savings of $53. At the actual value (5,000)at the present rate of .58 it is a savings of $218 I also have Federal proof of it being a total loss and you think I should be happy and accept this. Like I have said before you make accusations about things you have no clue about. Your Good Old Boys are doing a fine job of taking advantage of people that think like you. I will be leaving this area very soon in an attempt to find a locality (not here in Virginia) that isn’t full of money grubbing crooks and the Good Old Boy system of politics. It makes me mad knowing my ancestors spilled their blood for this county dating back to 1730 and the many relatives who are stuck here due to their economic situation. To tell you the truth I hope they up the tax rate next year and stick all you naysayers real good. I will send you my sympathy with LOL.
Richard 1:
I did not attend the meetings because I saw no general errors in reassessment. I did look into the matter, I asked questions and found the answers satisfactory. I certainly do not favor an incomplete and incorrect assessment, nor have I seen any evidence that such adjectives may be applied to the new assessment.
The fact that someone goes to a meeting of people upset over an issue does not give them an accurate or complete facts about that issue. I have been to many political rallies for causes and find they are generally cheerleading events to inspire greater opposition, not the unbiased educational events organizers usually claim.
I too know Tracy Pyles and know of no reason to think he is unethical. However, I also know most of the other BOS members and likewise know of no reason to believe they have acted unethically. They just happen to disagree with Pyles. I will continue to have confidence in them until someone clearly proves they have acted wrongly. So far I have seen nothing that would.
Having worked in various causes over the years, I put little stock in petitions. If I create a petition that calls for lower taxes - for any reason - I could get thousands of people to sign it. But, when facts come out and understanding grows, many or most of those signatories fall away. If you look back years spanning several elections, you find several county controversies that caused petitions, calls for recalls, and flat statements from groups about how so-and-so would be soundly defeated in the next election. But it all led to nothing. No one has been recalled and very few incumbents have been defeated, unless other issues were involved. County voters generally feel their elected officials do a decent job.
Your statement that the 10,500 signatures on the petition represent a third of the county landowners would indicate that you have done a remarkable amount of work to check each and every one of those names to insure that they are county landowners, or even that they live in the county. I could say that the 10,500 signatures represent half the population of Waynesboro, but such a statement is meaningless. I have not seen or studied the petition, but I would wager that many who signed do not own county land. I would also expect that many homeowners who signed, when their property rose little or none in value, do not realize that going back to the 2005 assessment will inevitably mean they will see a tax bill higher than they would if the 2009 assessment stands. Like Mr. Chester, my tax bill will be higher with the new reassessment. But my friends who only own a home will see a significantly lower tax.
I am not a lawyer, and I doubt that you hold a law degree either. So we are both devising opinions based on evidence we gather and people we know, and we disagree. But that’s how the system works. If there is clear evidence that the reassessment is wrong or that members of the BOS acted unethically, I will be among those seeking redress and punishment. Lacking such evidence, I would hope you would accept the assessment - you need not agree with it - and move on.
As I said before and you admit it, that you have not attended any of the meetings and you admit that you have researched and used your own opinions from local media which has not been totally complete in their coverage. Again you admit that you are a non-lawyer but in your opinion you favor an incomplete and improper assessment which was illegally accepted by the BOA. In my opinion you have been 100% incorrect in your own beliefs based on your own admission as to accurate knowledge of the situation. The acceptance of the assessment was wrong. You have 38,000 properties in Augusta County, how many multiple properties are owned by the same person? If you have over 10,500 signatures that are protesting the activities of the BOS, BOA and Blue Ridge Mass., that is approximately one third of the property owners in the county. There are more signatures coming in everyday. I have known Tracy Pyles since day one of his election as the Pastures District Supervisor and have observed him and talked to him on many occasions. He has always been honorable, truthful and right on every occasion that he has backed. On this issue he is once again correct in his assessment of the overall problems.
I did not attend the recent assessment meetings because – after an appeal and some fact-checking - I was not that upset over my assessment. I also did not attend because all the allegations aired before that session in the media were of the variety that “My assessment is too high, it would not sell for that…“ and so on. In other words, the allegations seemed entirely based on personal feelings, not facts. And, when I spoke to a realtor, I did not look at real estate listings, but actual sales - which is public information. Recent land sales in Augusta County are way up over prices paid in 2005. That is flatly obvious. My 70+ per cent increase is really about 18 per cent a year average. Still high, but not that different from what is reported in other desirable parts of Virginia.
I did not attend Mr. Pyles’ meeting, but I have read news accounts and looked into the rules as a non-lawyer. I do not say Pyles advocates corruption, nor do I think that. I do think that giving the BOS power to change the amount and date of assessment at their whim would lead to corruption, and would be very bad government. I don’t want them to have that power.
I have watched the news on this matter unfold for months, and taken time to speak to some citizen members of the BOA. Over the years I have also gone out of my way to meet and get to know members of the BOS, and most of them know me… Including Tracy Pyles. I have found them good and dedicated public servants for the most part, even though I disagree with them on some issues. I do not see the conspiracy, the illegality, the “ramming” and the other ethical lapses alleged by some who seem particularly irate over their assessments. Nor do I subscribe to a lot of the conspiracy theories batted around on the Internet either.
Blueboy two… The fair market value of a piece of property is the value it would bring if sold by someone who did not have to sell it to someone who did not have to buy it. If you have some nuts willing to pay $20,000 per acre for rocky land, then that is its fair market value.
Richard 1… I am not willing to allow my elected officials to get away with anything. But nor am I going to jump into an emotional debate and allege that they are criminals without hard evidence. The BOS and BOA members I know well are honorable people, and these allegations simply don’t fit reality. Indeed I get irritated at those who cannot simply say they disagree with an official, but have to allege that they are crooked. I may disagree with you, but I will not question your ethics. We can have differing opinions without one of us being less intelligent, unethical or greedy. On the matter of reassessment, pending further evidence, I do disagree with you.
County Sage, I am sorry. The last assessment was $226,000.
County Sage, the first mistake you made was talking to a realtor. The house across the road from me was put up for sale at $225,000. It was dropped to $180,000 and still didn’t sell. It was auctioned off and brought $125,000. It was cleaned up and re-sold last August for $140,000. It was assessed at $126,000. Now, you tell me that the assessments are fair. If you read the law, it says the land is to be assessed at fair market value not what some idiot is willing to pay to get it.
CountySage; Have you been to any of the meetings or talked to Tracy Pyles? With the criticism you have directed at him I doubt it or you don’t understand what is going on. There is no reason that anyone’s land should have gone up 70% or 200% or any of these ridicules percentages. The meeting that Mr. Pyles held last Saturday explained very clearly what was illegal that the other BOS members have done.
You say that what Mr. Pyles is advocating corruption and illegal powers, wrong. The BOS has already committed corruption and illegal maneuvers with their “friends”. Have you looked at all their assessments? Believe me that there is plenty going on behind closed doors that you don’t have an inkling about. This has been a maneuver to ram these assessments down our throats from the beginning. People like you that are so willing to accept this sort of behavior from government officials that are only looking out for themselves are the biggest problem.
My county land went up almost 70 percent, and there were errors on the assessment, so I went an appeared at the Government Center, and most of the errors were corrected. It is hard for me to imagine my land is worth what they say, but I did some research and talked to a few realtors and find that, indeed, silly but rich outsiders are paying ludicrous amounts for Augusta County land. It still seems impossible that my land is worth what they say, but the figures do support it.
I feel for those whose land has gone up like mine, but if the land is truly worth more, then fairness dictates I pay higher taxes. Period. That’s the way the system is supposed to work. To allow landowners to set their own assessment would be madness. Heck, I’d like my land assessed at $1.95, unless I wanted to sell it.
Tracy Pyles is advocating the BOS assuming new and illegal powers over assessment. That is scary. If the BOS can pick the amount and date of assessment, it would lead to massive corruption. What’s to stop the BOS from choosing options favoring them or their friends? We have a good system under state law. Let’s follow it. If you think your land is over-assessed, protest to the courts. You do have options. But be sure the facts - not your feelings - support it.
I believe the BOS is doing a decent job in tough times. Indeed, I have not run into any acquaintances around town who feel otherwise. We have gripes sometimes about how they spend our money, and we let them know what we think. But, overall, they are doing as well as they can. Fortunately these recall petitions - something that happens any time there is a controversy - are drawing little support and would be thrown out by the court anyway unless someonce can actually prove illegality. In this case people seem to be protesting because the BOS followed the law, not that they acted illegaly.
I think the BOS needs to spend more on assessment so that a lot of the small errors I see in the process are corrected. That would not only make it more accurate, it would raise the confidence of the public in the process. It’s worth the expense.
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