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Dinwiddie residents push back after reassessment notices; supervisors say tax rate will be revisited
Summary
Residents reacted strongly to new reassessment notices showing large increases in assessed values; county administration and supervisors said the effective tax rate will be reconsidered during the FY2025 budget process and urged residents to use reassessment appeal channels.
Dinwiddie County’s board heard a wave of public concern after the county’s reassessment notices began arriving in mailboxes, showing substantial increases in many residential property valuations.
County administrator Massengill told the board that the reassessment — performed by Wampler Eanes and reflecting market activity since 2019 — was intended to bring assessments closer to fair market value. “This isn’t new,” he said, asking residents to follow the firm’s review process and noting that taxpayers may request a hearing with the reassessment company and, if necessary, pursue the board of equalization or circuit court review.
Multiple residents described steep increases and the financial strain those valuations could cause. One resident said her home’s assessed value rose by 86% and warned that even a lower tax rate might leave her with a much higher bill. Another speaker urged the board to consider how insurance and escrow changes compound the impact of higher assessments.
The board emphasized that the advertised “effective” rate published with reassessment notices is not the final tax rate. Supervisors said they do not intend to keep the advertised 84¢ rate and that the FY2025 budget process (budgets due in January, tax-rate hearings in March) will determine the final levy. “We can’t change the notice,” Massengill said, “but the board has no desire to maintain an 84¢ tax rate.”
The county set up public terminals and staff assistance to let residents view their new property cards and encouraged people to request formal hearings with the appraisal firm when they believe their property was misvalued. Massengill and board members also asked residents to participate in the budget process and attend public hearings before the final rate is adopted.
The board did not take any immediate tax-rate action at the meeting; supervisors said they will review the administrator’s proposed budget and the effective tax-rate calculations before any decision.
"If you feel your market data is incorrect, you have a path to a hearing," Massengill said. "We intend to work through the budget and are committed to lowering the advertised rate when the board adopts the FY2025 levy."
