Charlotte County Board adopts solar tax-credit ordinance, approves $691,500 budget adjustments to fund credits
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Summary
The Board adopted an ordinance to return surplus solar real-property tax revenue as credits applied to current tax bills and approved budget amendments moving $691,500 to fund those credits. The county also adopted a PPTRA resolution for tax year 2024.
The Charlotte County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 11 adopted an ordinance to return surplus real-property tax revenues from solar development to qualified taxpayers as a credit applied to current real property tax bills and approved budget adjustments totaling $691,500 to fund those credits.
The ordinance, adopted immediately on Sept. 11, 2023, says only one credit will be made for each qualified property and directs the County Administrator, Finance Director and Treasurer to administer the program. The ordinance cites the County’s authority under the Virginia Code provision invoked in the public materials (the ordinance text references § 58.1-3913). Patricia Berkeley presented a mock December tax bill illustrating how the solar credits would appear and how the credits would be applied to the parcel’s current tax obligation.
Board members then approved an amendment to the FY2023/2024 estimated revenue budget to reallocate unbudgeted solar revenue so credits can be issued. The amendment moves two lines shown in the packet: a $191,500 reduction in current real-estate tax receipts offset by a transfer from general-fund balance for $191,500, and a second pair of entries moving $500,000 from a Courthouse Solar Payments account into current real-estate tax (total debit/credit $691,500). Supervisor Hazel Bowman Smith moved the modification; Supervisor M. Anthony Reeves seconded. The motion passed on a roll call with all members voting yes.
Separately, the Board approved a Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA) resolution for tax year 2024 that sets personal-property tax relief at 28% for qualifying personal-use vehicles with assessed value of $1,000 or less and 28% on the first $20,000 for vehicles assessed at $1,001 or more; nonqualifying vehicles (for example business-use vehicles) receive no relief under the resolution. Supervisor Garland H. Hamlett, Jr. moved the PPTRA resolution; Supervisor Will D. Garnett seconded and the resolution passed on roll call.
Why it matters: county staff said the recent arrival of unbudgeted solar revenues requires a mechanism to return surplus funds to affected taxpayers; the ordinance and budget changes provide that mechanism and assign administration to county finance officials. The Board did not record any opposing votes during the roll calls.
What’s next: the ordinance directs county officials to implement the credit on tax bills; staff will follow through on credit calculations and billing for the December installment. The Board also scheduled a joint public hearing for Oct. 10 to consider a Tall Pines Solar conditional use permit amendment (see separate item).