By Kathryn Heaberg

Rockbridge County residents are already lining up to express their unhappiness with the new property reassessment, which increased property values an average of 60 percent.

According to the county supervisor from Kerr's Creek, Harvey Hotinger, citizens are "shocked" and "disturbed" after receiving their property reassessment notices this week.

The last reassessment took place five years ago. "Residents are not understanding how an increase of this magnitude could happen in five years," said Commissioner of Revenue David Whitesell.

But assessments will not necessarily correspond with tax bills. The next step for residents is to wait on this year's tax rate. The rate will be set by the Board of Supervisors after the budget is confirmed this spring.

According to Hotinger, with the property values this high, the tax rate will certainly be lower than the current rate of 73 cents per $100 of assessed value. However, he expects taxes to increase overall because of the high debt Rockbridge County is facing this year.

Residents have the opportunity to appeal if they disagree with their new property value. Blue Ridge Mass Appraisal, the company that performed the reassessment, has set up office in the second floor of the Woody Building in Lexington to hold appointments with unhappy residents.

Before meeting with an appraiser, residents can go to the Virginia Mass Apprasial Network's Web site at www.vamanet.com to compare the values of similar properties throughout Rockbridge County to their own.

Blue Ridge Mass Appraisal began hearing appeals last Monday and planned on continuing to hold appointments through Friday, Feb. 17. Appointment times are almost fully booked through Thursday, Feb. 16 and the company is considering sticking around for another week.

Blue Ridge Mass Appraisal was chosen to complete the reassessment because of their familiarity with the area.  The company has completed recent reassessments in Lexington, Buena Vista, and Augusta County.  

An Equalization Board will be begin hearing appeals once appointments are no longer available. The Equalization Board will be comprised of five Rockbridge County citizens, one appointed by each member of the Board of Supervisors.

 

View property values at:  Virginia Mass Apprasial Network

Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.

Lead supervisor:      Prof. Claudette Artwick

Reporting supervisor: Prof. Doug Cumming

Editing supervisor:  Prof. Pamela Luecke

Technical supervisor:  Michael Todd