Council committee forwards ordinance to reorganize tax code and offer semiannual billing for business taxes

The finance committee discussed and voted to forward Ordinance 2026-27, which reorganizes multiple sections of City Code chapter 27 and introduces an option for semiannual billing of business tangible property and machinery-and-tools taxes to coincide with existing June 5 and Dec. 5 billing dates. Anne Burkholder said the reorganization corrects inconsistent references, missing rates and outdated filing requirements.

"We would switch to the business tangible and machinery and tools billing to coincide with the June 5 and December 5 billing dates," Burkholder said, describing the semiannual option. She also outlined cleanup items: prorating boats and aligning trailers, expanding filing-by-exception to business-used vehicles to avoid needless yearly affidavits, and aligning the appeals process with the Code of Virginia. Councilors asked about drones, boat storage and how manufactured homes convert from personal to real property; staff said much of the vehicle and boat data will come from DMV and the Department of Wildlife Resources and clarified conversion depends on foundation, utilities and registration changes.

The committee moved, seconded and voted to forward the ordinance with a recommendation for council approval.