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Virginia officials present plan to cut preliminary 22.1% levy to roughly 8.49% after public outcry
Summary
City officials told residents they have reduced a preliminary 22.1% levy increase to about 8.49% as staff work through budget cuts and debt service; residents at a Truth in Taxation hearing urged far deeper reductions and described steep individual tax jumps.
Virginia City officials outlined their 2026 budget and levy process at a Truth in Taxation hearing on Dec. 9, saying staff had pared a September preliminary levy increase of 22.1% down to roughly 8.49% as of early December.
Brit C. Bennis, the city administrator, walked listeners through how the levy is set and how county property valuations, levy components (general levy, bonded debt levy, road/bridge levy, economic development levy) and fiscal-disparities payments interact to determine final tax bills. She told residents the city has worked to reduce the draft levy and that the council must adopt a final levy by Dec. 31; final tax statements are expected in February or March and may differ from the preliminary notices.
Residen…
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