The Louisa County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing and approved an ordinance on Jan. 5 to grant tax-exempt status to certain properties and personal property used strictly for charitable purposes by the Fluvanna–Louisa Housing Foundation.

County staff explained the ordinance amends chapter 70 (taxation) to add a section providing exemptions for property the foundation uses for charitable housing. A public commenter, Vicky Hart of the town of Louisa, asked whether any listed parcels were in the towns of Mineral or Louisa and whether exemptions would apply to town taxes; staff clarified that the county can only waive county taxes and that town tax revenues would be unaffected. Staff also clarified that future acquisitions not listed in the ordinance would need to come back through the same public-hearing process.

Board members, including supervisors who serve on the foundation or advocate for affordable housing, expressed support, noting the ordinance helps vulnerable residents by allowing the foundation to direct more resources into housing programs. The motion to approve the ordinance passed unanimously.

The county will record the approved ordinance and apply exemptions only to the parcels specifically listed; any additional properties the foundation acquires in the future would require separate board action.