Amelia County special meeting approves proposed budget and trims personal property rate 10¢

Amelia County officials at a special meeting voted 3–2 to adopt the proposed fiscal-year budget and to reduce the county's personal property tax rate from 4.35 to 4.25. Chair called for the vote and, after counting hands, said, "So that is a that is the vote on the proposed budget for this year."

The decision followed extended discussion about returning surplus funds to residents and how much revenue the county could afford to give back. A committee member who moved the change said constituents had called seeking relief and proposed a package of tax adjustments; another member warned that unresolved audit findings undercut confidence in the financial numbers. The transcript shows competing estimates of revenue per penny of tax change were raised during debate and not reconciled in the meeting record.

Members who supported the cut argued that, with a projected surplus, modest relief would help households facing higher costs. Opponents stressed that the county still faces unresolved audit deficiencies and that several capital-improvement projects remain paused for lack of funds. Those concerns were voiced before the final roll call.

The board also directed staff to prepare ordinance language and public-notice materials related to an expansion of elderly/disabled tax relief; the draft will be advertised and a formal public hearing scheduled (see related story). Officials said the ordinance likely would not be voted on until July following required advertisement and a June public hearing.