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Council backs staff plan to prepare an ordinance allowing a higher tax rate on blighted properties
Summary
Staff recommended adopting the state-authorized 'blighted property' higher‑rate designation (up to +5% over the base tax) as an incentive for owners to fix properties; council polled in favor of moving forward with a blighted-only classification rather than a two‑tier (blighted/derelict) approach.
City staff proposed that Hampton adopt a local ordinance using state authority to designate truly blighted properties and levy up to a 5% higher real‑estate tax on those parcels as an incentive to compel remediation. Staff recommended against creating the narrower "derelict building" tier because qualifying criteria and timing requirements would make it administratively heavier with little extra coverage; staff estimated roughly 15 properties in the city would potentially qualify under the broader blighted definition.
"If it's a blighted property, you can go up to 5% greater than the general tax rate," staff said while explaining the statutory definitions and appeals process. Staff said the blighted tax is intended as an incentive tool — not a broad revenue generator — and would be implemented with an ordinance and an appeals path (board of zoning appeals) if council directs staff to proceed.
