Supervisors propose 4-cent tax increase
CRAIG COUNTY – February and March has found the Craig County Board of Supervisors handling a potpourri of business including the conundrum as to whether or not to raise taxes on real estate to increase county revenue.
“We’re not far enough along with the budget yet to know what we will need,” County Administrator Richard Flora told supervisors at the March 4 meeting. “The state hasn’t given us any guidelines.”
County residents last saw in increase of $.02 in 2008, bringing the county’s tax rate to $.54 per $100 value. Once rates are advertised they cannot be increased, but they can be decreased or left as is, depending on what the board of supervisors decide the county needs.
Craig County farm scene by Ann Harrell
Treasurer Jackie Parsons pointed out there is no separate tax for mobile homes. “Although they show up on personal property tickets, mobile homes are taxed at the going real estate rate which is $.54 right now and not the $3 shown on personal property tickets,” Parsons said. “Usually only the single-wides show up on personal property tickets.”
After much discussion, members of the Craig County Board of Supervisors voted to advertise a tax increase of $.04 per $100. A public hearing is planned for Thursday, April 22, at 6 p.m., in the Craig County Courthouse.
In other matters at the March 4 meeting, supervisors:
• tabled a vote to amend Chapter 54 of the Craig County Subdivision Ordinance to include a provision for a Family Subdivision. In February the Planning Commission unanimously recommended to the supervisors that the proposed amendment to the subdivision section be adopted.
This would allow the property owner to give or sell a portion of his property to a member of his immediate family according to the specifications of the Code of Virginia and other provisions. Supervisors voted to wait until the reading of the final proposal before voting for an amendment.
• heard a report by David Bostic, Fire Management Officer for the U.S. Forest Service, that the roads the Forest Service had been able to get to have been marginal.
“We have had a lot of storm damage this year,” Bostic said, “and we anticipate a lot of repair work.” Bostic added that work would commence as soon as they could get to the roads. • adopted a resolution authorizing the county administrator to file an application with the Department of Rail and Public Transportation for financial assistance in the amount of $45,000 to help defray the cost of public transportation purposes. A feasibility study will be done.
At the February meeting, supervisors adopted an Emergency Operations Plan for Craig County and designated County Administrator Flora as the Director of Emergency Services.
That move came on the heels of severe winter weather that had been pelting the county since December when the first major snow storm dumped up to 18 inches of snow in places within the county and throughout the state. A prolonged power outage in New Castle on Feb. 6 prompted Coordinator of Emergency Services Jim Cady to declare a state of local emergency for the county.
Virginia Department of Transportation representative Kristen Williby reported snow had been a big concern and VDOT was working hard to order more salt and keep the roads clear. At the February board of supervisors’ meeting, she also said VDOT crews were working as quickly as possible to break through snow drifts and had mobilized a snow blower for Craig County which should greatly help the effort.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Craig County Board of Supervisors is Thursday, April 1, at 3 p.m. at the Craig County Court House.
Craig County is a county of retiree and those who have to work outside the county for a living.The county and its supervisors alike have done nothing to bring work into this county and want a tax increase, ge me a brake!If you did something for the residence of the county you might be able to justify a tax hike.As sure as you read my words please understand very clearly,the tax paxers of this county will put you out of the county for work as well.