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Residents press Surry County on uneven property reassessments and residential shooting safety
Summary
Multiple residents at the Jan. 15 Surry County meeting urged a review of recent property reassessments citing adjacent-lot disparities and urged action on repeated residential target shooting; the board pledged follow-up with the Commissioner of the Revenue and the sheriff.
Multiple residents used the Surry County Board of Supervisors’ public comment period on Jan. 15 to press elected officials about inconsistent property reassessments and persistent residential shooting that neighbors say threatens safety and quality of life.
Roberta Hamill, an 18-year resident who said she has 32 years in the mortgage industry, told the board she found wide, adjacent-lot valuation gaps and argued the county must apply assessments uniformly: “The Virginia Constitution and the Code of Virginia … require that property is assessed based on its fair market value,” she said, and described adjacent lots with disparities she placed in the 23%–31% range. Brian Hamill, also from the Claremont District, said the advertised tax increase of 9.2% translated in his neighborhood to effective increases of roughly 17%–22% and questioned why the county issued a $500,000 rebate while many lower-valued homes saw larger percentage increases.
Several speakers urged an external or third-party review of assessment procedures and the county’s assessor contractor; one resident recommended replacing the contractor if inconsistency persists. Board members acknowledged the concerns and said staff and the Commissioner of the Revenue are working with property owners to correct errors, and that the county approves the vendor who performs assessments.
Public-safety concerns also drew attention. Kimberly Bailey of Bacon’s Castle asked the board to consider an ordinance banning the discharge of firearms in residential areas after she described repeated target shooting near her home that required sheriff response. Shalom Pierce recalled an incident on a Fourth of July when a projectile crossed multiple properties and struck a house across the street, and urged the board to weigh safety against the county’s hunting traditions.
Board response: Supervisors thanked speakers for engaging and said they would involve the sheriff’s office on shooting complaints and continue working with the Commissioner of the Revenue on reassessment issues. Legal and operational follow-up was pledged; no ordinance or new assessment policy was adopted at the meeting.
