Northumberland County hears detailed land‑use valuation briefing; residents urge keeping protections for family farms

Todd Thomas, the county presenter, told the Northumberland County Board of Supervisors on March 24 that the county’s current use‑value rates for tax purposes have remained at $800 per acre for agricultural/open space and $500 per acre for forestry since the program’s adoption. He reviewed the State Land Evaluation Advisory Council (SEALAC) 2026 suggested ranges and showed neighboring jurisdictions’ suggested values, noting that some counties’ recommended figures are substantially higher than Northumberland’s current rates.

Thomas provided program statistics and answers to a set of 15 questions from the board, saying that approximately 57,337 acres were enrolled in the county program through tax year 2025, that 674 property owners were granted agricultural land‑use values across 936 parcels and about 22,660 acres of cropland, and that forestry participants numbered 626 owners across 931 parcels totaling about 18,161 acres. He also said the county applied for and received forestry sustainability reimbursements (listed as $15,739 and $2,530) and that roughly $13,209 remained unallocated for board direction. Thomas explained rollback reporting, acreage reconciliation procedures, and where the land book records are kept, and told the board the assessor’s segment coding (waterfront, road frontage, wetlands, etc.) affects parcel valuations.

During more than an hour of public comment, farmers, longtime residents and others described how land‑use protections have helped preserve farmland, shoreline and the seafood economy and warned that raising rates too sharply could force sales, accelerate development, and increase costs for schools and emergency services. Jim Penny, a Heathsville resident, argued the county should consider raising land‑use rates toward SEALAC recommendations or require regular reviews by the planning commission; he also presented a long‑term comparison showing large county property‑value growth since 1993 and estimated a fiscal differential tied to the land‑use program reported in the meeting as about $1.12 million.

Other speakers — including George Wright, Wyatt Garland, Mike Brown, David Fisher, Lake Cowart and others — emphasized narrow farm profit margins, rising input costs (equipment, fuel, fertilizer), and potential harms to local employment if farms are lost. Several urged incremental or targeted adjustments rather than elimination of land‑use status. A few residents expressed support for modest readjustment to SEALAC‑recommended values but stressed the need to protect small, generational farms.

The board repeatedly framed the meeting as educational and several members said they did not intend to eliminate the program; instead they indicated they would consider adjustments and further study. The county noted statutory limits on tax increases and that formal tax rates would be set later in the budget process after reassessment figures were finalized.

The meeting closed the public comment period and moved to a closed session to discuss personnel matters under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. When the board returned to open session, members certified the closed meeting and resumed regular business. The comments and data Thomas presented will be part of the record for any future discussions about whether to change Northumberland County’s land‑use rates or review schedule.