Residents urge Roanoke County to ease tax burden as assessments rise; board opens public hearing
March 13, 2024 | Roanoke County, Virginia
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ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. — The Roanoke County Board of Supervisors opened a statutorily required public hearing March 12 on the 2024 effective real estate tax rate after staff reported that reassessments excluding new construction increased by 7.75 percent.
Steve Elliott, budget administrator for finance and management services, told the board that state code requires the county to calculate and advertise an effective tax rate increase when reassessments produce more than a 1 percent change in total real property levies (excluding new construction). The advertisement for this hearing ran Feb. 11, Elliott said.
During the public hearing, retiree Sherry Eckert of Bellemeade Drive told the board her assessment had risen by about 35 percent using the proposed 2024 assessment and that residents on fixed incomes face a significant burden. "If you lowered your tax rate it would give citizens some relief from the escalating prices of real estate and that's what I would request," she told supervisors.
The board accepted public comment; no rate decision was announced at the meeting. Elliott said staff recommended receiving citizen comments before any decision about keeping the current rate or adjusting it for calendar year 2024.
A follow-up decision on the tax rate is expected at a subsequent meeting after the board considers public input and staff recommendations.
Steve Elliott, budget administrator for finance and management services, told the board that state code requires the county to calculate and advertise an effective tax rate increase when reassessments produce more than a 1 percent change in total real property levies (excluding new construction). The advertisement for this hearing ran Feb. 11, Elliott said.
During the public hearing, retiree Sherry Eckert of Bellemeade Drive told the board her assessment had risen by about 35 percent using the proposed 2024 assessment and that residents on fixed incomes face a significant burden. "If you lowered your tax rate it would give citizens some relief from the escalating prices of real estate and that's what I would request," she told supervisors.
The board accepted public comment; no rate decision was announced at the meeting. Elliott said staff recommended receiving citizen comments before any decision about keeping the current rate or adjusting it for calendar year 2024.
A follow-up decision on the tax rate is expected at a subsequent meeting after the board considers public input and staff recommendations.
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