Amherst County's Real Estate Tax Rate Battle: Will You Pay 50% More This Year? Shocking Details Inside!

AMHERST COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — As the Amherst County Board of Supervisors navigates the complex waters of its 2027 budget, one issue has sparked considerable debate: the real estate tax rate. During a budget workshop on Wednesday afternoon, the board made a preliminary decision to instruct County Administration to prepare a budget based on a real estate tax rate of 58 cents per $100 of assessed value. However, this rate is not final, as the board has yet to officially approve it.

Currently, the real estate tax rate stands at 61 cents per $100 of assessed value, which was also the rate advertised for the public hearing that night. This approach allows the board the flexibility to lower the rate, but not to increase it. A significant concern for many residents is that if the tax rate remains unchanged, they could face increases of over $800 annually in real estate taxes.

During the public hearing later that evening, seven families voiced their frustrations to the board, urging them to reconsider the current tax rate or at least equalize it. One resident expressed their distress, stating, "Y'all will be getting one of my checks every year, it's not doable. You know, very little income coming in, but you know, giving it all back to the county." Another shared a harrowing financial situation: "Health and car insurance is literally killing me, along with everything else that's going up. I don't know how much more I can survive. I'm just probably gonna have to sell and live somewhere like a shack, small place somewhere."

Concerns were also raised regarding the recent property reassessments. One resident noted that their property value had been raised by 76% in the past year alone, which he found alarming. Board Chairman Tom Martin highlighted the necessity of the proposed tax rates by explaining that an equalized rate of 39 cents would not sufficiently fund last year's budget due to declining revenue sources elsewhere.

Amherst County Finance Director Tracie Morgan provided insight into the financial implications of various tax rates, showcasing how each would affect county revenue. This level of transparency is appreciated by residents, especially amid rising living costs.

Some residents urged the board to reconsider the reassessment frequency, which currently occurs every six years. They argued that this timeline is insufficient, given the rapid pace of inflation. One individual argued, "Doing reassessments every six years is insufficient because people are going to be upset because of inflation." He suggested that more regular assessments, perhaps every two or three years, could better reflect current market conditions and prevent "sticker shock."

The board appears to be taking these concerns seriously. Vice Chairman Chris Adams mentioned that the frequency of reassessments is a topic they will continue to evaluate, recognizing the significant changes that can occur in a six-year timeframe. He stated, "It seems like this has been a hot topic for some time, and this is something we're gonna continue to look into going forward."

Every member of the Amherst County Board of Supervisors has expressed a desire to lower the tax rate to alleviate financial pressure on county families. Both Adams and Supervisor Claudia Tucker emphasized that Amherst County has not raised taxes in 12 years and have no intention of deviating from that course now. The board plans to hold a final public hearing on the budget and the real estate tax rate on April 21, with hopes of passing a budget by May.

As the Board of Supervisors grapples with these issues, the outcomes will have far-reaching impacts on residents. With economic pressures mounting from various fronts, including rising insurance costs and inflation, the decisions made in the upcoming budget could significantly shape the financial landscape of Amherst County for years to come.