Van Holen and Marshall believe county can absorb deficiency in FY25 budget
Orange County Board of Supervisors all agreed Tuesday night not to raise personal property tax rate for the current fiscal year because of deficiencies found in the commissioner of revenue office because of a sudden decrease in vehicle ownership and lowering valuation of used vehicle prices.
Orange County Board of Supervisors had a lot on their plates for Tuesday’s regular meeting. Several presentations, discussions about revising the zoning ordinance and a public hearing all were part of the one-hour work session and public meeting.
Supervisors heard from Charles Reinhold, owner of Virginia Foothills Distillery, Shari Landry, President of the Culpeper Wellness Foundation about the Piedmont Regional Dental Clinic and the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Both Reinhold and Landry expressed gratitude to the supervisors and Orange County Chamber of Commerce for support and assistance with their respective businesses.
VDOT representative Scott Thornton updated supervisors on the state of road projects in the county. Several roads are on the Rural Rustic repaving program and there will be a public hearing for potential new roundabouts at both ends of High Street in Gordonsville in September.
The board discussed possible changes to the county zoning ordinance.
The supervisors acknowledged the need for changes to clarify and simplify the code.
Discussion was made to consider adding the Agricultural-1 Zone at the same time and it was determined that defining and adding the designation was a doable option.
No land would be rezoned but it makes it possible in the future.
Rather than making a final decision they’ve agreed to continue discussion at the next meeting.
District 4 representative Crystal Hale asserted the need to have a clear and logical ordinance, explaining that the current code leads to confusion and frustration.
“It’s kind of like being in an old house with secret passageways,” said Hale about the current code. “You open a door and go down a hallway thinking you ‘re going to the porch and end up taking another passage and end up somewhere else. Applicants should have a clear path not a complicated maze.”
Josh Crawford, chief deputy commissioner of revenue explained upcoming changes to how personal property is valued. Crawford explained the current valuation system uses the JD Power pricing guide which is only accurate for models 20 years old and newer.
The system for the 2024 tax year will be straight -line depreciation based on original cost. There will also be an appeal form for any citizen who disagrees with the valuation of their personal property.
Crawford noted two issues that could contribute to a revenue shortfall, one that post- pandemic used car prices have fallen and there are about 2000 less vehicles in the county than were estimated at budget time.
Crawford estimated that raising the personal property tax rate to $3.87 per $100 assessed value up from the current rate of $3.60 per $100 would make up the expected shortfall.
Supervisors Ed M. Van Hoven (District 2) and Keith F. Marshall (District 3) expressed strong opinions that they were not interested in burdening the citizens of Orange County with personal property tax increases.
The board agreed, unanimously voting not to make any change in rates and agreed that there was ample room in the budget to offset the shortfall.
The two public hearings for a proposed zoning change where Bindi LLC applied to change the .36-acre lot at 16584 Tomahawk Creek Road from Agricultural to Limited Commercial and related special use permit by Bindi LLC to dispense fuel both passed unanimously.
Though zoned agricultural, the lot has been used as a convenience store for over 50 years.
