Dinwiddie supervisors agree to advertise real‑estate tax at 65¢ as budget choices loom

The Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors voted on several budget items and formal actions at its March 18 meeting and reached consensus to advertise the county’s real‑estate tax at 65 cents per $100 of assessed value for the FY2026 public hearing.

County Administrator Kevin Massengill said the county’s recent reassessment reduced the “equalized rate” to about 56 cents, but the board must decide where to advertise a rate that funds requests from county departments and the school system. Massengill presented scenarios that tied revenue at different advertised rates to funding options including partial or full implementation of a class‑and‑comp plan, new public‑safety positions, and a proposed recurring replacement fund for vehicles, ambulances and school buses.

“That replacement fund in and of itself is about a $1.89 million program — roughly the value of 5 pennies on the tax rate,” Massengill told the board. He recommended options ranging from advertising at the equalized 56 cents up to 64 cents or higher; supervisors debated which mix of priorities to cover and whether to advertise slightly above the likely need to give the board flexibility after school numbers arrive.

Supervisor Daniel D. Lee argued for a higher advertised figure to retain flexibility; Supervisor Casey M. Dooley and others said they preferred a number that balances taxpayer ability to pay with service needs. After discussion, the board coalesced around advertising 65 cents with the understanding the advertised number can be lowered later if the budget picture improves.

Votes at a glance

• Employee health insurance renewal (Local Choice) — The board approved a resolution to renew the county’s Local Choice employee health insurance policy for FY2026 at the rates proposed by staff (an average 8.9% premium increase). Roll call: Casey M. Dooley — aye; Marquise Moore — aye; Robert Chavis — aye; Eberron Bonner — aye; Daniel D. Lee — aye.

• Rezoning P‑25‑2 (West Petersburg) — Approved, 4–1 (see separate article on the West Petersburg rezoning). Roll call recorded four ayes and one no.

• Rezoning P‑25‑3 (West Petersburg adjacent lots) — Deferred by motion; the board closed the public hearing and tabled the case to the next regular meeting to allow the applicant time to confer with the neighborhood and provide additional materials.

• Zoning text amendment A‑25‑1 (create a “Self‑Storage Facility” use; require CUP in B‑2 and M‑1) — Approved unanimously. The Planning Commission had recommended approval.

• Zoning text amendment A‑25‑2 (strengthen local penalty/abatement language to align with state code for continuing violations) — Approved unanimously. Staff said the change clarifies the county’s authority to seek court orders to abate ongoing zoning violations.

• Appointments — The board made several appointments and reappointments to advisory boards (Industrial Development Authority and Social Services Advisory Board); roll calls recorded unanimous votes on those appointments.

Why it matters

Massengill warned that the county faces a choice between maintaining services, funding new positions and creating a recurring replacement fund for large county equipment. The advertised rate sets the public hearing starting point; the board may adopt a lower final rate after the required public hearings and once school funding numbers are final.

What’s next

The board authorized staff to publish the required advertisement and will hold formal public hearings on the advertised rates. Supervisors emphasized the ad will list all other tax rates unchanged from 2024 and that the board can reduce, but not increase, the advertised real‑estate rate after the hearing.

Ending

Massengill urged residents to review the proposed budget materials and to attend the upcoming hearings. Supervisors said they would continue to weigh school requests, class‑and‑comp implementation and the proposed replacement fund before adopting a final budget later this spring.