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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/11/2025 - Public Hearing - David Riddle - Tax RatesRhonda Perdue From: Sent: To: Subject: norep ly@ civicplu s.co m Tuesday, March 11 , 2025 10:56 AM Board of Supervisors [EXTERNAL] -Online Form Submittal : Request to Add ress the Board CD WARNING: This Message Is From an External Sender, Use Caution! This message was sent from outside the Roanoke County email system . Report Suspicious Reques t to Address the Boa rd Request to Addres s the Bo ard of Supervisors PLEASE NOTE: All e lectro n ic submissions to speak at a Board meeting must be rec ei ve d by the Cle rk's Offi c e no later than 2 :00 p .m . on the date of the meeting . Wri tt e n requ e st s may be submitted in person at the meeting following this t ime. Meeting Date: 3/11 /25 Agenda Item Number: F1 Purpose : Publ ic Hearing Subject: Assessments/Tax Rate 1A-1 ,,P,r/e Spea ke r Info rm ati o n Name: David S Riddl Street Address: ~t87J City: Roanoke 7 t:PO$ State: Virginia ZIP: 24014 Phone: 5403096330 Email: stilleridd@gmail .com Group/Organization : Pr ivate Citizen I w ou ld like the Cha irman of the Board of Supervisors to recognize me during the meet ing on the ab o ve matter so that I may comment. 1 ✓ -,. WHEN CALLED TO THE LECTERN, I WILL GIVE MY NAME AND ADDRESS FOR THE RECORD. I AGREE TO ABIDE BY THE GUIDELINES LISTED BELOW : • Each speaker will be given three (3) minutes to comment, whether speaking as an individual or representative . The Chairman will enforce the rule unless instructed by the majority of the Board to do otherwise. Individuals may not yield time to another speaker. • The speaker will be limited to a presentation of his/her point of view only . Questions of clarification may be entertained by the Chairman . • All comments must be directed to the Board. Debate between a recognized speaker and audience members is not allowed . • Both speakers and the audience will exercise courtesy at all times . • Speakers are requested to submit any written statements and/or comments to the Clerk to the Board . • It is at the discretion of the Chairman to allow an individual to speak on behalf of an organized group . Written authorization from the group allowing the individual to represent them shall be filed with the Clerk. Effective July 1, 2002 , HB731 of the 2002 Virginia General Assembly updated the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Email subscribers receiving information from a public body may, at their request , be exempt from having their email address g iven out should the email list be requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). If you would like to be exempted , please call (540) 772-2003 . Email not displaying co rrectly? View it in your browser . 2 CD Good Afternoon Chairman Radford, Vice Chairman North and members of the Board. I'm David Riddle, a resident of the Mt. Pleasant Community.· !L111 also active as a volu11teer with the Mt. Pleasant Volunteer Fire Dept as well as part-time work at Explo~ I'd like to take this opportunity to talk about property assessments, and the resulting impact on our Real Estate taxes. This year's assessment on my property went up 5.89%. Last year's assessment went up 7.51%. For the past five years, the assessment has climbed 32.3%; all driven by a tight housing market after the Covid pandemic in which housing prices have skyrocketed. By comparison, last year's national inflation rate was only 3%. In talking with Mr. Daryl! Shepherd in the assessment office, I understand the State Code dictates how assessments must be done, based on Fair Market Value . But in this volatile housing market, those assessment increases may look good for people wanting to sell; but it hurts homeowners who have no intention to sell by seriously increasing their taxes. It may even force long-term residents to sell if-living on a fixed income -they can no longer afford those tax increases. Several urban communities are driving out their low-income residents due to the inflated housing purchase and rental prices. I come before you today to ask your consideration of two issues. First, ¥. I UI\JJ)~.j} to adjust the tax rate down ar;eiR this year l~ you did last year) to partially offset the increased assessments. Second, I'd ask you include in your legislative package for the next General Assembly session an amendment to the State Code to allow Counties to cap assessment increases to the overall inflation rate; not just basing assessments on the fluctuations of the current housing market. I do not envy you members of the Board having to balance the need of sufficient revenue to cover the inflationary pressures on salaries, operations and maintenance with the taxpayers concerns over higher taxes. tf,-.ff aving worked in state government and county services for over 30 years fappreciate the task before you today. I appreciate your ti fiscal responsibilities for ensuring proper use of tax revenues. But I'm sure there are many Roanoke County taxpayers who have been getting sticker shock every year recently when their assessments have come in the mail. I -We taxpayers -are asking your help in reducing the impact of those assessments on our taxes, and in asking the General Assembly for reasonable adjustments to the State Code for future assessments. Thank you for this opportunity to address my concerns with you.