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Supervisors remove six‑year revalidation for land‑use taxation, raise application fee
Summary
The board approved an amendment to the county’s land‑use taxation ordinance to remove the optional six‑year revalidation requirement and raise the initial application fee from $50 to $100, following an endorsement from the Virginia Farm Bureau and the county commissioner of revenue.
The Southampton County Board of Supervisors adopted an amendment to the county’s land‑use taxation ordinance that eliminates the six‑year revalidation requirement for enrolled agricultural land and raises the initial application fee from $50 to $100. County staff said the change would reduce administrative burden and is consistent with state code, which makes revalidation optional.
Commissioner of Revenue Miss Carr and staff described the change as a request from the Virginia Farm Bureau; local landowners testified in favor. Gary Cross, a farmer, told the board the revalidation process created extra paperwork and that making it automatic would reduce unnecessary office traffic during busy seasons.
A supervisor moved to adopt the ordinance amendment; the board voted in favor and the ordinance was adopted as presented. County officials said staff would implement the fee adjustment and update procedures.
The amendment also was described as supporting the county’s adopted vision and priorities document, and staff said Isle of Wight and other nearby jurisdictions do not require periodic revalidation for land‑use taxation. No fiscal analysis quantifying fee revenue change was presented at the meeting.
