eNews: Action Alert – February 9, 2022
Wednesday, February 09, 2022 - 05:08pm
Oppose HB1010 before 10:30 a.m. tomorrow – 
Would require local referendum prior to property tax increases
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HB1010 (Durant) will be heard tomorrow (Feb. 10) at 10:30 a.m. in the House Finance Committee. This bill would require localities to hold a binding referendum to approve any increase to the local property tax rate that is greater than one percent.
Concerns
- Decisions about taxes and the use of revenues are among the most fundamental to governing. The General Assembly should not tie the hands of local elected officials who are the closest and most responsive to their communities.
- In FY2020, the real property tax accounted for 55 percent of locally raised county revenues, 25 percent of town revenues, and 47 percent of city revenues. These revenues fund K-12 education, public safety, elections administration, social services, and behavioral health.
- Like similar measures in California and Massachusetts, HB1010 would blow a hole in local budgets and likely lead to the state government needing to take over additional public services that are now performed by local governments.
Action points
- Contact the members of House Finance Committee (see below) and encourage them to vote against reporting HB1010 for the reasons outlined above.
- Please communicate to your Delegates that local governments cannot afford funding cuts, particularly as demands for public services continue to increase.
Current GA Committee:
VML Contact: Carter Hutchinson, chutchinson@vml.org
