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Dinwiddie residents press supervisors over steep property reassessments; county says tax rate will fall
Summary
Dozens of residents told the Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors their reassessment notices showed big increases — some more than 80% — and urged tax relief. County officials said the mailed example uses the current rate but the board will set a lower rate during the budget process and outlined appeal steps.
Dozens of residents at Wednesday’s Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors meeting urged the board to provide tax relief after receiving reassessment notices showing large increases in assessed value.
“Mine has gone up 86%,” said one resident, who asked the board during public comment to note that she has not made major home improvements. Other residents described increases they said will sharply raise monthly housing costs and asked for exemptions for seniors on fixed incomes.
County administrator Kevin Massengill told the room that the example tax bill mailed with reassessment notices assumes the current tax rate (84 cents) and that the board has not yet set the 2025 rate. “The tax rate’s gonna come down,” Massengill said, urging residents to participate in the budget process and explaining that the board will calculate an effective tax rate tied to the new values.
Massengill and staff walked through the appeal process: homeowners can request a hearing with the reassessment contractor, Wampler Eanes; if unsatisfied they may petition the Board of Equalization; the final recourse is circuit court. Staff also said in-person terminals have been set up at county offices so residents can view their new property cards and supporting market data.
Several speakers said the notices are causing confusion and hardship, especially for older residents on fixed incomes. “We as seniors need tax relief,” one speaker said. County officials responded that reassessment brings the county closer to 100% of market value after a long gap since the last mass appraisal, and emphasized the statutory steps available to contest valuations.
The board did not set a new tax rate at the meeting. Supervisors and the county administrator said the budget workshops scheduled in the winter will include public opportunities to review proposed rates and departmental spending before the board schedules a tax‑rate advertisement and public hearing.
