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Spotsylvania supervisors consider additional tax relief for seniors, disabled residents

by | Oct 10, 2024 | ALLFFP, Government, Public safety, Spotsylvania

Spotsylvania County Commissioner of Revenue Deborah Williams pleaded for more tax relief for seniors during a presentation to the board of supervisors earlier this week. 

Chancellor District Supervisor Gerald Childress and Chair Jacob Lane of the Livingston District were not present, and Lori Hayes of the Lee Hill District said she is not prepared to support the initiative. 

Ultimately, the board asked Williams and others from her office to return to the next meeting to make another presentation as any decision was tabled. 

The county’s current tax policy provides $1.4 million in relief to seniors, but it is unclear how much the new model proposed by Williams would add to that total. 

Hayes said she wants to help seniors who are in need but added, “We have no idea how much this is going to cost to do this.”  

“That’s my concern,” Hayes said. “In my household and my business, I don’t budget on unknowns because it can put you in a very bad position. I certainly don’t want to do that with county money … We are jumping into an unknown. I can’t get behind that at this juncture.” 

The county’s current program benefits residents who are 65 and older or permanently and totally disabled. They must have an annual income of $50,000 or less; their net worth must be less than $200,000 (excluding the dwelling and up to 10 acres); they must reside at the exempted dwelling, and $1,500 is the maximum amount of tax relief. 

The new proposal, which would take effect Jan. 1, 2026, would increase the annual income limit to $68,000, the net worth to $250,000 and the maximum amount of relief to $1,900. 

“I’m in full support of what the staff has put out here,” said Supervisor Kevin Marshall of the Berkley District. “It gets us where we need to be. The [residents] you’re hearing from aren’t the ones already getting it. It’s the ones barely missing it. They’re paying 100% of their taxes and their net worth could be $100 over.” 

Marshall asked Williams and her staff if they don’t mind coming back to the next meeting when Lane and Childress are present so that all districts in the county have a voice on the issue. The supervisors also discussed ways to potentially help 24 delinquent senior taxpayers so they don’t fall further behind on payments. 

In other business, Hayes suggested offering the county’s internal auditor to the school division. 

Salem District Supervisor Deborah Frazier, who serves as the chief academic officer for the school system, was taken aback by the suggestion, questioning if other supervisors were aware of an issue with the division’s finances and had kept her in the dark. Superintendent Clint Mitchell was in attendance but did not speak. 

Frazier questioned if Hayes’ offer was made in “good faith.” 

“I don’t know if it feels right to me,” Frazier said. “Offering services is a good thing. Did something happen that I am not aware of that this board has discussed that is a concern? … I just want us to be transparent on all fronts.” 

Hayes said the county would incur the costs of the school division using the auditor and her offer was made “in the spirit of collaboration.” She said she did not mean to offend anyone. 

Battlefield District Supervisor Chris Yakabouski said it would be good to work with the school board on something before budget season — when the bodies are typically at odds. 

“In my mind, it’s trying to give them another resource to utilize for processes, procedures and we assist with that financially,” Hayes said. 

Hayes rescinded her motion to have County Administrator Ed Petrovich reach out to Mitchell to offer the county’s internal auditor to the school division. Instead, each supervisor will have a discussion with the school board member from their district explaining the benefits that the county has received from the service. 

During her board report, Hayes also initiated a moment of silence for Wanda Vernell Norbrey, a 70-year-old pedestrian who was struck by a 2018 GMC SUV and killed at the intersection of Glendas Way and Tidewater Trail (State Route 2) last Saturday. Hayes hosted a community meeting in July in which residents and officials expressed safety concerns about the intersection. As of July, six fatal vehicle crashes had occurred in the area since 2022, including four pedestrian deaths.  

A sign telling motorists to watch for pedestrians was placed leading up to the intersection since the most recent incident. Hayes said the Virginia Department of Transportation will have advance warning lights operational by Friday. 

The board voted 5-0 to instruct staff to write a letter to VDOT requesting a span-wire traffic signal be installed at the intersection as soon as possible. Hayes pledged to not stop pushing the issue until it is resolved. 

“After every single one of these people tragically lost their lives, we take a moment, we feel sorry for their families and we recommit ourselves to do something,” Hayes said. “I want to make sure that my constituents and the citizens of Spotsylvania know that that this is a long road … There’s a lot of work that’s been done on this. We’re getting close to getting what we really need.”  

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