Resident urges Roanoke County to expand senior property tax relief and consider assessment freeze

Gary Levins, a resident representing Orchardville Villas in East County, told the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 27 that rising property assessments and taxes are increasing financial pressure on seniors and urged officials to examine expanded tax-relief options.

Levins said Orchardville Villas is a 108-unit retirement community with about 170 residents and that the community paid roughly $400,000 in real estate taxes last year. Citing handout figures, he said assessed values in the county have increased about 41.1% since 2019 and that taxes have risen roughly 37.2% between 2019 and 2024. He projected a 13% increase in assessments for 2025 based on early 2024 sales data.

Levins asked the board to consider adjustments to senior-relief program parameters, including raising income limits and examining an assessment-freeze program. He noted state guidelines cited in his materials that list income thresholds (examples in his handout showed $50,000 for single AGI and $75,000 for married AGI under state guidance) and pointed to other localities with higher limits, saying Loudoun County’s limit was, in his example, $70,000.

Levins acknowledged some details may have to be determined at the state level and asked the board to review the county’s existing freeze and relief options and consider recommending changes to the General Assembly or moving forward at the county level if authority permits. The board received the comment; no formal motion or vote followed during the citizen-comment period.