Waynesboro residents to pay higher property taxes
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By Jimmy LaRoue
Published: September 22, 2008
Waynesboro residents will be paying $10 to $20 more in personal property taxes this year following the City Council’s unanimous adoption Monday of a resolution on the issue.
That amount, said Vice Mayor Frank Lucente, represents a 6.5- to 7-percent tax increase.
The Personal Property Tax Relief Program requires that Waynesboro’s council adopt a resolution annually setting the rate of relief for qualifying vehicles.
Last year, the rate was set at 62 percent. With an increase of 250 cars in the city, and no increase to the $1.7 million available for car tax relief, the city would have had to make up $180,000 to the state had it not adopted the resolution, according to interim City Manager Mike Hamp.
“The thing that I have a dilemma about this is I don’t like to raise taxes on the citizens,” Lucente said. “What happens if we don’t pass this is we’ll have to make up the difference.”
Lucente said it was “upsetting to me that the state has put us in the position to do this.”
Personal-use vehicles valued at $1,000 or less are eligible for 100-percent tax relief. Any vehicle between $1,001 and $20,000 is eligible for 58-percent tax relief, and any vehicle valued at more than $20,000 will only receive 58-percent tax relief on the first $20,000 of value.
Ward B Councilman Bruce Allen, along with Mayor Tim Williams, echoed Lucente’s comments.
Councilwomen Nancy Dowdy and Lorie Smith missed the meeting. Dowdy is on vacation and Smith is dealing with a family illness.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( Jwc52 ) on September 24, 2008 at 6:47 am
Just keep voting for the GOP ticket and see what we will be paying in property taxes in anothyer four years. That is if we still have any property left to tax! This editorial is written to simply keep the blame from being placed where it should be….The States fault? No “the buck stops here” (G.W Bush). One of his many, many quotes that stated he was to blame if his policies were to fail,remember? it really “sounded good” at the time,lol. Not!
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Posted by ( athiker ) on September 23, 2008 at 3:20 pm
The vice mayor says, “I don’t like to raise taxes on the citizens” and noted if taxes aren’t raised “we’ll have to make up the difference.” Well, how about making up the difference? In the same way VAdogmom noted citizens will have to make personal budget choices to account for the tax increase, the city should do the same. In the end, it’s easier for council members to raise taxes than it is to think outside the box and figure out how to deal with the position “the state has put us in.“
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Posted by ( shiflerg ) on September 23, 2008 at 11:27 am
If we did not cave in to the state, how would the city make up the $180K?? Is this tax increase to make up for that $180K; is it more; is it less? Is this $10-$20 increase per registered vehicle??
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Posted by ( VAdogmom ) on September 23, 2008 at 7:19 am
Just great. In a time of record food and gas price increases, we now get hit with even MORE taxes. What do we do now? Give up a meal or two this year to pay this? Do without heat for a day or two this winter to squeeze this into our budget? As for me, I’m done. As soon as this housing market recovers somewhat and we can at least break even selling our house, we’re leaving this town & the “money managers” of this city can get their pocket money from someone other than us.
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Posted by ( zarxo ) on September 23, 2008 at 12:30 am
And what do the citizens get? Better drinking water? Lower crime? Has the City rid itself of illegal immigrants and meth users? Rewarding is necessary but let’s earn it.
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Posted by ( Jwc52 ) on September 22, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Mayor Frank Lucente why are you blowing smoke rings in the dark here? You vote to raise our property taxes but the state is forcing you to? Hahahaha, thats a good way to say your simply passing the buck. Where the hell is the buck stops here talk we have heard so much about during elections….Hmmmm let me see….The buck stops here…..Where was that said…. G…..Dubya….Bush??!! Yeah thats it!! Then all you republican servies ran off with the tax surplus while declaring the buck stops here….... Well. We werent led to believe it was to all end up in your well lined pockets… the buck started getting passed around the GOP merry- go-round yet for another term…..Time for a Major overhaul I would say…Lets change our vote to people that can actually lower taxes with the truth in spending act that the GOP fears so much. Only fear that tax money was being watched killed the truth in spending act that has been proven to turn a red budget back into the black. You raised our property taxes sir not the state! For that alone you will be remembered. Get it?
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