Danville City Council will vote Thursday night, May 8, on holding the city’s tax on real estate at the current rate of 73 cents for every $100 in value. At 73 cents, the tax rate is the fifth lowest rate among all cities in Virginia.
If council votes to keep the current 73-cent rate, then homeowners and other property owners still could see changes in their tax bills. The city is reassessing the value of all properties this year in Danville. This process takes place every two years, and as a result, property values may rise or fall.
Current data indicates property values will increase on average by 1.7 percent. At that percentage, property currently assessed at $100,000, for example, would be reassessed at $101,700 effective July 1, and the tax bill would increase from $730 to $742.41 annually, an increase of $12.41 annually or $6.21 per installment.
The estimated increase is an overall average and individual properties may increase at a greater or lesser percentage, or decrease. Two years ago, property values on average declined, and the real estate assessment realized a net 1.1 percent decrease in revenue generated.
If the current data holds true, then the reassessment together with new construction is anticipated to generate an additional $300,000 in real estate revenue for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1 and ends on June 30, 2015.
In other matters on the agenda, council members will:
» vote on approving the budget for Danville Public Schools. The school budget that council will consider provides for a 2.84 percent increase in spending for instruction, administration, pupil transportation, operation and maintenance, facilities, and technology. The city’s share of those costs again would be $18.7 million. The school system did not seek an increase in financial support from the city.
» hold a public hearing on the proposed budgets for various funds in the next fiscal year and the proposed list of capital improvements. As required, Council will have to wait until its next meeting on May 20 to cast a final vote on these budgets and capital improvements.
» hold a public hearing and vote on submitting a one-year action plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
» vote on authorizing the Danville Redevelopment and Housing Authority to create two independent corporations for the Upper Street Housing Project.
» vote on amending city policies on cost-of-living adjustments for city retirees.
» vote on accepting $55,220 from the Danville-Pittsylvania Community Services Board for parks and recreation programs to serve citizens that are intellectually challenged. This money is a continuation of funding, which the city receives each year. This vote is a first reading. A second and final vote will be cast at council’s May 20 meeting.
» vote on accepting two grants totaling $60,761 for repairs and upgrades to the Danville and Pittsylvania County Regional Fire Training Center. This vote is a first reading. A second and final vote will be cast at council’s May 20 meeting.
These agenda items will be considered during City Council’s business session, which begins at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers on the fourth floor of the Municipal Building located at 427 Patton St.
Following the business session, council will reconvene in a work session for less formal discussions. Work sessions are conducted in the fourth floor conference room of the Municipal Building.
In the work session, City Council will:
» hear a presentation on Danville Community College's proposed precision machining training program.
» discuss a request from the Danville Museum of Fine Arts and History Board that the City accept the donation of 126 Sutherlin Ave. and amend the current lease agreement to lease the property back to the museum. The property is a two-story, 3,762 square-foot house built around 1903. The museum is currently using it for research and office purposes and may use it for museum exhibits in the future.
» discuss if any further changes are to needed to the proposed budgets for the various funds operated by the city and the proposed list of capital improvements before the final vote scheduled for the May 20 business session.
» convene a session closed to the public to discuss a prospective business or industry related to economic development. State law allows closed meetings for specified economic development matters.
In addition to this closed session, Council also will convene a closed session at 5:30 p.m. for consultation with legal counsel pertaining to probable litigation.
River City TV broadcasts all business sessions. Watch them live on Comcast cable channel 10 or streaming at www.rivercitytv.org. Video archives of council business sessions also are available at www.rivercitytv.org. Work sessions are not televised or recorded on video.