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Residents urge board to find alternatives to proposed personal property tax increase during budget hearing
Summary
Dozens of residents spoke at a public hearing on the county budget and proposed tax changes, opposing a proposed rise in the personal property tax rate and warning of harm to seniors, low-income households and small businesses; board members discussed multiple scenarios but did not adopt a budget.
The Patrick County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing on the county budget and potential changes to tax levies; members of the public urged the board to avoid raising personal property and lodging taxes and suggested alternatives including reserve draws, modest rate increases, and spending cuts.
Speakers from multiple districts — Dan River, Smith River, Blue Ridge, Mayo River and Peters Creek — told the board a personal property tax increase would hit seniors, households on fixed incomes and small businesses. Jane Funk of the Dan River District said she opposed raising taxes to balance the budget and questioned recent personnel raises and the county’s spending practices. "If I don't have the revenue to come into my house, I can't spend the money and that looks like what we have," Funk said.
Several speakers focused on the transient occupancy tax (TOT) and lodging businesses. Steve Helms, identifying himself as vice president at a local lodging business referenced in testimony as "Premlins," said the lodging industry contributes significant county tax revenue and reinvests in property improvements. Helms said his employer's guests and operations generated $617,515 in transient occupancy tax from that business last year and that the company employed hundreds of seasonal and year-round staff. He warned that increasing the TOT or other lodging-related levies could reduce investment incentives.
Other residents raised the distributional effect of proposed increases. Janet Rohrer of the Mayo River District explained the distinction between machinery-and-tools tax and business personal property tax, saying many small local firms fall under the business personal property tax and would face higher bills if rates rise. Leanne Seeley and Rachel Martin said a proposed 28% personal property tax increase over three years would be burdensome for people on fixed incomes and those who must maintain vehicles to access services in a rural county.
Multiple speakers urged spending cuts, tighter personnel controls or a forensic audit rather than tax increases. Vance Agee and others argued for reviewing payroll and prior federal assistance (PPP) as part of budget balancing. Several speakers noted that reassessment rules (cited in testimony as Va. Code §58.1-3321) and the timing of reassessments can limit immediate revenue gains from revaluation.
Board members discussed several proposed budget scenarios circulated in advance. Supervisors acknowledged the tension between balancing the budget and protecting lower-income residents. One supervisor said a 16-cent increase phased over three years would be "a little much" and voiced support for a smaller 1–2% increase instead; another suggested tapping reserves (scenario 7 referenced drawing $197,000) to buy time to consider longer-term options. No formal action or vote on the budget occurred that night.
The board closed public comment and moved into further discussion of budget scenarios; no decision was made and the supervisors agreed to continue deliberations at a later meeting.
