Waynesboro holds public hearing on reassessment; residents urge lower tax rate

Waynesboro City Council held a public hearing on the lower tax rate required by the 2025 general reassessment, during which residents urged the council to set the city’s real estate tax at the equalization rate rather than the proposed rate.

City staff said the assessor’s office completed the 2025 reassessment and that the total assessed value of real property (excluding new construction) rose 13.5% over 2024. Under Section 58.1‑3321 of the Code of Virginia, a locality must hold a public hearing when a reassessment would increase the total real property tax levy by 1% or more. Staff said the “lowered tax rate” that would levy the same total tax as last year is 69¢ per $100 of assessed value; the proposed property tax rate is 89¢ per $100. No action was required or…