2020-01-01 Support Equal Taxing Authority for Virginia Counties PITTSYLVANIA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
RESOLUTION # 2020-01-01
SUPPORT FOR EQUAL TAXING AUTHORITY FOR VIRGINIA COUNTIES
WHEREAS, at the Business Meeting of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors (the "Board") held on
Monday,January 27,2020, in the General District Courtroom of the Edwin R. Shields Courthouse Addition,the following
Resolution was presented and adopted:
WHEREAS, under the Code of Virginia county governments have less authority to raise revenues to meet their
responsibilities than do cities and towns; and
WHEREAS, limitations on counties' ability to raise revenues from diverse sources result in an over-reliance on
real property taxes to fund basic services of local government; and
WHEREAS,counties are limited in their ability to raise revenues from meals, cigarette, transient occupancy, and
admissions taxes that are available to cities and towns; and
WHEREAS, providing counties equal taxing authority merely provides local boards of supervisors the ability to
levy the same taxes that may already be imposed by city councils;and
WHEREAS, county governments have the same responsibility as cities for the funding of and meeting state
requirements for core services, such as K-12 education, public safety, social services,and public health; and
WHEREAS,relying too heavily on one source of revenue leaves counties vulnerable to downturns in the real estate
market and population shifts; and
WHEREAS, additional tools to raise revenues would allow counties options to invest the necessary additional
funds to respond to modern-day challenges, such as enhancing election cybersecurity; providing mental health treatment in
jails; addressing substance abuse; maintaining vital infrastructure, such as water and sewer systems; and implementing
Next-Generation 911 technology; and
WHEREAS,state enabling legislation is required to provide counties with this additional taxing authority; and
WHEREAS,each locality is best positioned to determine the appropriate mix of revenue sources to meet local
needs;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors does hereby
resolve and express its support and desire for the Virginia General Assembly to enact such legislation as is necessary to
authorize Virginia counties to exercise additional taxing authority equal to that of cities and towns.
Given under my hand this 27th day of January,2020.
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^,.s- obert W. Warren,Chairman
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