AGENDA DATE: 6/3/2015
TITLE:
Title
Land Use Assessment Program - Revalidation
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Update 2013-2014 Revalidation and key dates for 2015-2016 Revalidation cycle
ITEM TYPE: Regular Information Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Foley, Letteri, Davis, Burrell, and Willingham
PRESENTER (S): Bob Willingham, County Assessor
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Thomas C. Foley
BACKGROUND: In 1971, the General Assembly enacted a new Article of the Virginia Code to enable localities to provide a special assessment for land preservation. Among the stated purposes of the original legislation (Virginia Code ? 58-769.4) were:
(1) To encourage the preservation and proper use of real estate to assure a readily available source of agricultural, horticultural and forest products and of open space within the reach of concentrations of population;
(2) To conserve natural resources in forms which will prevent erosion and to protect adequate and safe water supplies;
(3) To preserve scenic natural beauty and open spaces;
(4) To promote proper land use planning and the orderly development of real estate for an expanding population; and
(5) To promote a balanced economy and lessen pressures which force conversion of real estate to more intense uses.
The Virginia Code sets out basic qualifying prerequisites, and assigns responsibility for ensuring uniform standards to the State Land Evaluation Advisory Council (SLEAC). Each year, SLEAC publishes ranges of suggested values. Local assessing officers may use these ranges of value, along with their personal knowledge, to arrive at final use value assessments of qualifying properties. Virginia Code ? 58.1-3230 defines four qualifying categories for use value assessment:
(1) Agriculture - the bona fide production for sale of plants, plant products, animals, animal products useful to man under uniform standards prescribed by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services; ...
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