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The Patrick County Board of Supervisors voted Monday to pass a resolution setting the percentage of the Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA or "no car tax" law) at 50%.

According to Commissioner of the Revenue Janet Rorrer, the county is receiving $688,658 from the state as tax relief to citizens owning vehicles qualifying for the PPTRA--those used primarily for personal, rather than business purposes, and valued at less than $20,000.

For example, Rorrer said, the tax on a vehicle valued at $6,000 would be $102.60 at the county's personal property tax rate of $1.71 per $100 assessed value. Making the percentage 50% would mean that the owner pays a tax of about $51, she said.

Rorrer said the county has to pass a resolution each year setting the percentage of car tax relief in anticipation of the funds it will receive from the state, based on the changing values of personal-use vehicles.

The "no car tax" proposal that helped former Gov. Jim Gilmore get elected in the late 1990s has never materialized. The PPTRA of 1998 initially aimed at phasing out and eventually eliminating the "car tax," but due to state financial crises has never been fully implemented.

The tax had been phased to 70%--meaning that a taxpayer would owe only 30% of the tax--but that changed when the General Assembly passed an appropriations act in 2005 modifying the PPTRA. Now, rather than reimbursing localities for actual revenues lost through reducing vehicle taxes by 70%, the state returns a set amount to each locality, to be divided among the owners of qualifying vehicles.

Critics of the PPTRA have argued that it gives the state control over what was originally one of the few taxing options open to local governments.

The resolution states that the commissioner of the revenue is authorized to adjust the percentage computation after "running the personal property books" in late August or September, if necessary.

The vote on the resolution was 3 to 1, with Peters Creek District Supervisor Lock Boyce, Mayo River District Supervisor Ron Knight, and Smith River District Supervisor Crystal Harris voting for the motion. Dan River District Supervisor Roger Hayden cast the dissenting vote.

"I don't believe in any car tax," Hayden said.

Blue Ridge District Supervisor Karl Weiss, board chairman, was on vacation and did not attend the meeting. Harris presided in his absence.

In other matters at the Aug. 23 meeting.

Following a public hearing, the board voted to abandon a discontinued portion of the original Rt. 631, adjacent to Dobyns Primitive Baptist Church, located between Rt. 643 and existing Rt. 631(Dobyns Road).

According to the public notice announcing the hearing, the road segment "serves no public necessity due to reconstruction of original Rt. 631 and is no longer necessary as a part of the primary system of state highways."

The board's approval returns ownership of the road segment to the church.

Elder Donny Conner, pastor of the church, thanked the board and administration and the Virginia Department of Transportation for giving the road back to the church. He said the church members hope to build an addition to the church to be used as a fellowship hall, especially because next year the church will celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Conner said he didn't know how the small congregation was going to raise the funds needed for the addition.

"We've got a group of elderly people who want to see this done before they go to be with the Lord," Conner said, "but the price is plain out of reason."

Conner added, "We need the road straightened out whether we build it or not."

In other matters at the Aug. 23 meeting:

*The board voted to approve a performance contract with Piedmont Community Services and the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services.

*The board approved Boyce's nomination of Greta Payne to a four-year term on the Patrick County Board of Social Services.

*County Administrator Jay Scudder reported that the seepage problem at the closed county landfill had been repaired, as required by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.


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	Board sets car tax relief percentage at 50% By Nancy Lindsey The Patrick County Board of Supervisors voted Monday to pass a resolution setting the percentage of the Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA or "no car tax" law) at 50%. According to Commissioner of the Revenue Janet Rorrer, the county is receiving $688,658 from the state as tax relief to citizens owning vehicles qualifying for the PPTRA--those used primarily for personal, rather than business purposes, and valued at less than $20,000. For example, Rorrer said, the tax on a vehicle valued at $6,000 would be $102.60 at the county's personal property tax rate of $1.71 per $100 assessed value. Making the percentage 50% would mean that the owner pays a tax of about $51, she said. Rorrer said the county has to pass a resolution each year setting the percentage of car tax relief in anticipation of the funds it will receive from the state, based on the changing values of personal-use vehicles. The "no car tax" proposal that helped former Gov. Jim Gilmore get elected in the late 1990s has never materialized. The PPTRA of 1998 initially aimed at phasing out and eventually eliminating the "car tax," but due to state financial crises has never been fully implemented. The tax had been phased to 70%--meaning that a taxpayer would owe only 30% of the tax--but that changed when the General Assembly passed an appropriations act in 2005 modifying the PPTRA. Now, rather than reimbursing localities for actual revenues lost through reducing vehicle taxes by 70%, the state returns a set amount to each locality, to be divided among the owners of qualifying vehicles. Critics of the PPTRA have argued that it gives the state control over what was originally one of the few taxing options open to local governments. The resolution states that the commissioner of the revenue is authorized to adjust the percentage computation after "running the personal property books" in late August or September, if necessary. The vote on the resolution was 3 to 1, with Peters Creek District Supervisor Lock Boyce, Mayo River District Supervisor Ron Knight, and Smith River District Supervisor Crystal Harris voting for the motion. Dan River District Supervisor Roger Hayden cast the dissenting vote. "I don't believe in any car tax," Hayden said. Blue Ridge District Supervisor Karl Weiss, board chairman, was on vacation and did not attend the meeting. Harris presided in his absence. In other matters at the Aug. 23 meeting. ROAD ABANDONMENT APPROVED Following a public hearing, the board voted to abandon a discontinued portion of the original Rt. 631, adjacent to Dobyns Primitive Baptist Church, located between Rt. 643 and existing Rt. 631(Dobyns Road). According to the public notice announcing the hearing, the road segment "serves no public necessity due to reconstruction of original Rt. 631 and is no longer necessary as a part of the primary system of state highways." The board's approval returns ownership of the road segment to the church. Elder Donny Conner, pastor of the church, thanked the board and administration and the Virginia Department of Transportation for giving the road back to the church. He said the church members hope to build an addition to the church to be used as a fellowship hall, especially because next year the church will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Conner said he didn't know how the small congregation was going to raise the funds needed for the addition. "We've got a group of elderly people who want to see this done before they go to be with the Lord," Conner said, "but the price is plain out of reason." Conner added, "We need the road straightened out whether we build it or not." In other matters at the Aug. 23 meeting: The board voted to approve a performance contract with Piedmont Community Services and the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services. The board approved Boyce's nomination of Greta Payne to a four-year term on the Patrick County Board of Social Services. *County Administrator Jay Scudder reported that the seepage problem at the closed county landfill had been repaired, as required by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.