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Bristol City Council sets 2025 real property tax rate at $0.93 per $100 after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing in which residents complained of large assessment increases, Bristol City Council voted 4-1 to set the 2025 real property tax rate at $0.93 per $100 of assessed value; personal property and other rates will be set later.
Bristol City Council adopted a calendar-year 2025 real property tax rate of $0.93 per $100 of assessed value following a public hearing on April 8.
Mayor Becky Nave and four other council members voted to approve the resolution, while Councilmember Michael Pollard voted against it. The advertised and adopted citywide levy sets $0.93 per $100 for general city and school purposes; the council noted an equalized rate of $0.80 during discussion. The resolution directs that rates for personal property, machinery and tools and other levies be set later in the budget process.
The hearing drew several residents who said recent reassessments sharply increased their taxable values. "We're taxed a lot in this city," said Kevin France, who told the council his home assessment rose by "about 60 percent." Randall Lockhart said his assessment increased by $68,600 and estimated the proposed rate would raise his bill roughly 16.4% this year. Todd Crusenberry said his assessment rose about 67% and that the added tax burden would be excessive for many households. City Manager and City Attorney Randall Eads referenced Virginia Code §58.1-3321 to explain the procedural requirements for the hearing.
Council members and staff also heard the City Manager's FY26 budget presentation at the meeting, which listed objectives including recruiting and retaining police and fire personnel, meeting school funding requests, addressing capital needs and implementing a 3% salary increase for city staff. The budget timeline presented anticipates adopting remaining tax levies and the full budget before June 30 so that the June 5 bill deadline can be met.
The tax resolution passed 4-1 (Voting For: Neal Osborne, Anthony Farnum, Becky Nave, Jake Holmes; Voting Against: Michael Pollard). The council recorded that the first-installment tax bills are scheduled so that the June 5 payment deadline can be met; staff will set remaining levies with the final budget adoption.
