Both Powhatan and Bedford counties have budget public hearings on Monday; Bedford to rescind cancellation of Smart Scale project
Another week begins in local government across the Fifth District
Today, we cut right to the information. If I’m to do these, I need to figure out how to write them quicker. I am hopeful in the future to be able to report more on all of these localities. Doing this research and sharing it with you helps me know more and gives me ideas about how to proceed.
This is an experiment and this is the 100th installment. We’re now eleven months in, and I have learned a lot in that time. I still don’t want to turn on paid subscriptions for this newsletter, for my main efforts goes to Charlottesville Community Engagement. But if you would like to help make sure this keeps getting produced, consider a Patreon subscription.
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Powhatan County Board of Supervisors to hold public hearing on the budget
The five-member Board of Supervisors in Powhatan County will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Village Building. Community members can also participate via Zoom. (agenda packet)
There will be an update on 2023 real estate assessments. This report tracks the sales data in Powhatan County for the first three months of this year. Homes are taking longer to sell, but the median sales price has increased 4.6 percent with the average price up 7 percent. Homes are selling about 2 percent above original listing price.
There are three public hearings.
The first is on a rezoning of a parcel in District 5 from Agricultural-10 to Commerce Center on Anderson Highway. The landowner seeks to build a “small-scale” funeral home and crematorium. The Comprehensive Plan calls for this to be “Gateway Business.”
Next is the public hearing on the total budget for FY2024 of $154,560,547. The next one is a public hearing on changes to planning and zoning fees, building inspection fees, and other administrative changes. These appear to include eliminating the fees for motor vehicle registration.
Bedford County Supervisors to hold public hearing on tax rates
The seven member Bedford County Board of Supervisors meets at 7 p.m. in the Administration Building in Bedford. (meeting portal)
There are two public hearings.
The first is to set the tax rates for 2023. As with Greene County, Campbell County, and the City of Lynchburg, the real property tax rate will be decreased.
“In 2022, Wingate Appraisal Service finished a property reassessment which resulted in higher property values across the County,” reads the staff report. “With the growth in property values, the current 50 cent tax rate is being reduced.”
The proposed rate is 41 cents per $100 of assessed value. That’s still higher than the 38 cent rate that represents the equalized rate.
“Each cent of real estate tax is worth $1,205,000,” the report continues.
Staff is recommending putting that money toward capital projects.
The second is for consideration of an amendment to the ordinance on precincts and polling places related to the section on “Satellite Absentee Voting.” This is just to change the location of the satellite office.
“The Electoral Board proposed that the satellite office for the June 20, 2023 Primary Election and for the November 7, 2023 General Election be located at the Department of Parks and Recreation, Bedford County Gym, located at 1059 Turning Point Road, Bedford, VA,” reads the staff report.
The consent agenda has a resolution to add Bedford County as a co-applicant for the Timber Ridge Road Smart Scale application. This would make alterations to the intersection of Route 460 and Route 803. The Central Virginia Planning District Commission is the main applicant.
There’s additional funding in the Salem District of the Virginia Department of Transportation and this project was not originally recommended for funding.
“Since making this determination, the Salem District has confirmed the recent release of reserve funds by the Commonwealth Transportation Board which has made additional District Grant funding available for potential allocation to Round 5 SMART SCALE projects,” reads the staff report.
The only action item on the agenda has the title “Consideration of a resolution canceling the rescission of support for the Camp Jaycee Smart Scale Project.” Bedford Supervisors approved a resolution supporting the project in April 2018 and it was selected for funding through Smart Scale the next May.
There was opposition at a public hearing on February 23, 2023 related to the closure of a crossover at Camp Jaycee Road. Supervisors rescinded their support on March 13. However, the state wants safety improvements to happen at this location anyway and have informed the county that those might be able to be accomplished within the budget for this Smart Scale project.
“The crossover could be closed at a future date if conditions warrant,” the report continues.
Reading material:
Dan River Supervisor Tim Chesher to resign, Chatham Star-Tribune, April 21, 2023
Bedford council votes to annex more land into town limits, angering some county residents, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News and Advance, April 21, 2023
Midkiff will run for re-election in Buckingham County, Brian Carlton, April 21, 2023