Board hears public concerns as staff proposes 1¢ real-estate tax-rate cut to $0.89

Chesterfield County staff told the Board of Supervisors the proposed tax-rate table for tax year 2025 would reduce the real estate rate by one cent, to $0.89 per $100 of assessed value, and that three smaller rates would "float down" with that change; members of the public urged further tax relief.

"The only significant change to that table on an ongoing basis is [the] real estate rate," county staff member Mr. Harris told the board, noting the proposed one-cent reduction would be the fourth consecutive annual decrease.

Residents at the public hearing said assessment increases will likely push many taxpayers' bills higher even with the one-cent cut. Fred DeMay of the Matoaka District told the board Chesterfield has among the highest county tax rates in the region and calculated that, because average assessments rose about 5.1%, "the effective tax rate increase will be approximately 4.4¢" and that many taxpayers could face higher bills despite the nominal rate cut. John Kaslow, a Hopkins Road resident, said his Social Security increase of 2.7% does not match the rise in his tax bill and said he would need an effective tax rate near 82–83¢ per $100 "to break even."

Staff also told the board there is no proposed change to the personal property tax rate; Harris reminded supervisors the county cut that rate by 25% last year. The public hearing on tax rates closed after two speakers; no vote was taken at the session. The tax-rate proposal remains part of the FY 2026 budget process and will be finalized through the board's adoption steps.