Some Dinwiddie property tax assessments rise as much as 300 percent

DINWIDDIE -- Dinwiddie Supervisors propose cut in tax rate Property reassessments, taken every four years, climb as much as 47.4%

The Board of Supervisors yesterday agreed to propose a lower real estate tax rate, but that didn't please residents whose property assessments have risen dramatically.

The board voted 3-2 to advertise a real estate tax rate of 77 cents per $100 of assessed value, 10 cents less than the current rate. Yet even at that proposed rate, the property tax levy would rise 25 percent, based on a 2008 reassessment that showed existing residential property values rose an average 47.4 percent.

The board will vote on the new, reduced rate following a public hearing on April 21.

The reassessment notices sent in December spurred public outrage, with some residents complaining about increases of as much as 300 percent. Many residents have said the increase in land value was unreasonable considering a struggling U.S. housing market.

The increase, however, was partly because the county had not conducted a reassessment since 2004. Unlike other localities that reassess properties yearly or every two years, Dinwiddie has a four-year cycle.

County Administrator W. Kevin Massengill said the real estate tax rate would need to be slashed to 61.5 cents to offset the impact of the reassessment.

Yesterday, Board Chairman Donald L. Haraway and member Harrison A. Moody proposed lowering the rate to 68 cents per $100 of the assessed value, which would mean an 11 percent increase in the tax levy.

But members John Talmage, Doretha Edwards Moody and Michael W. Stone said 77 cents was necessary to be able to keep services.

Some residents yesterday promised to fight the proposed tax rate.

"I think it is totally ridiculous," resident John Wamsley said. "This is unreasonable. It is unjustice for the taxpayer."

Wamsley, whose property assessment rose from $160,000 to $301,000, said the board can expect a big turnout at next month's hearing.

Resident Vincent Lewis said most of the citizens expect to see some increase, but he called the proposal outrageous.

"I don't know what kind of citizens you want. We are going to have to move out," he said. "I am very disappointed in you. . . . I am glad this is not a final vote."

The county has requested the opinion of a judge on whether it would be legal for the Board of Equalization to void the last property reassessment, County Attorney John Blair said.

If the court were to rule that the reassessment can be voided and the Board of Equalization decides to do that, residents would pay taxes based on the 2004 assessment.

"I am hoping the judge will rule in our favor," Wamsley said.

Contact Luz Lazo at (804) 649-6058 or .