Taxation Without Representation

600 Augusta County Residents Learn How to Hold Government Accountable

The envelope from the assessor's office is never really a welcome piece of mail, but the contents this time rivaled the IRS "we have examined your return..." notice as Augusta residents looked at hefty increases in land valuation that were based on sales during the 'boom' that has since busted. Since assessments are supposed to be based on the value at the first of the year, the numbers are not valid by proper application of the law.

SWAC Girl: Augusta: 600 turn out to protest assessments [click to read]

The firm that performed the assesments, citizens learned, had recently completed a reassessment of adjoining Bath County that had been discarded after residents there brought discrepancies to light. More on Bath County Assessments from the Roanoke Times [click to read]. Attorney Francis Chester of Churchville pointed out the dangers in allowing this assessment to stand. A similar process led to the increased taxation of Long Island farmers that led to the decline of Long Island's agricultural economy.

Citizens were urged to mke a unified appeal to the supervisors, Write letters to the editor, and obtain the actual worksheets for their assesments from the county. They should obtain their own comparibles and make an appointment for review of their assessment.

They need to retain a copy of their worksheet and any other infomation in the event it is necessary to enter into a class-action lawsuit.

Mr. Cester is circulating a petition among the citizens and it is important to sign it and return before March 9.

March 11, 2009 at 7:00pm is a very important meeting of the Board of Supervisors. All Concerned Citizens Should Attend this meeting at the County Government Center in Verona. At that meeting the petitions will be presented and supervisor Tracy Piles will introduce a motion to roll back the assessments to the 2005 figures.

Here in our own community is a perfect civics lesson in keeping government accountable. May we learn it well.

Hat Tips to Lynn Mitchell

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." -- American Declaration of Independence

Of Interest:

News Virginian Article [click to read]
A storm damaged shack gets high assessment in Gloucester County, a mansion has no value...

Editorial: Put Brakes on Assessment [click to read]
"All of this demands that county officials give Augusta’s reassessment a second, more scrutinous look. So far indications are from supervisors – Pyles aside – that they will proceed as per usual, working through appeals then setting a tax rate. This is insufficient. Ample cause exists to wonder over the fairness and accuracy of the numbers. Supervisors will fail in their duty if they allow the reassessment to take effect so long as such questions linger. Taxpayers deserve better and should insist upon it. We do so on their behalf."

The Shack and the Mansion from Dailypress.com [click to read]