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Resident says vehicle assessment doubled; commissioners cite limits on tax abatement
Summary
A taxpayer asked the Surry County Board to request the tax office honor a bill of sale after his vehicle's assessed value reportedly doubled; commissioners and the county manager said the tax office had mailed a response and that the board cannot unilaterally abate taxes.
Abbas Beach told the Surry County Board of Commissioners on May 4 that the county tax office has doubled the assessed value of his vehicle and has not explained who set the value, asking the board to send a memo asking the tax office to honor a bill of sale.
"They've doubled mine, and they won't tell me who did it," Beach said, asking for a written request to clarify a 25-year-old transaction he said had been honored until recently.
Chair responded that the board typically does not answer questions during the public comment period but would give Beach the floor; later County Manager Chris Knopf told the board that Beach had received a mailed response from the tax office and that the response had been included in the information packet for the previous meeting.
Commissioners explained the limits of the board's authority over tax assessments. Commissioner Tucker described factors the tax office considers beyond purchase price — including VIN, make, mileage and condition — and said the board cannot instruct the tax office to abate taxes. "We can't just forgive taxes," one commissioner said, noting abatement would run afoul of state rules.
The board did not grant the specific request for abatement or change the tax office's action at the meeting. County staff offered to re-send the tax office response and follow up with Beach.
