Tazewell County grants tax-exempt status to Legacy Hospice after public hearing

The Tazewell County Board of Supervisors voted April 7 to grant tax-exempt status to Legacy Hospice and Palliative Care, contingent on the organization operating at Tax Parcel Number 124A0025A, using the wording recommended by the county attorney under Code of Virginia §58.1‑3651.

At a public hearing that drew several residents, speakers described hospice services as a community resource for end-of-life care and support for families. Hunaker said Legacy staff “are truly the hands and feet of Jesus,” and Sandy Tatum told supervisors, “The mission of Legacy Hospice is to serve our community.” Kenji Martin, who described personal experience with Legacy’s rapid response and 24/7 work, told the board Legacy is the only nonprofit hospice provider serving the local area and urged approval so the organization could reinvest savings into patient care and community services.

County attorney staff advised the board on the legal language needed for a local exemption under state law and read the required motion language on the record, specifying the parcel number. A supervisor moved to approve the application using the attorney’s wording; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

Board members who spoke in favor said they were moved by the personal accounts and emphasized that the nonprofit’s stated practice of providing care regardless of ability to pay aligned with the statutory considerations for exemption. No formal roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript; the board passed the motion by voice vote.

The board’s approval means Legacy Hospice’s property at the specified parcel will be designated by the county as tax-exempt under the cited statutory authority, subject to the condition that the organization operates its hospice business at the named parcel. The board recessed to executive session later in the meeting and set a recessed meeting for April 21, 2026, at 6 p.m.