What people are saying about the tax rate reduction
By Julia Torres Barden CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Johnson

After the board of supervisors voted last week to reduce the property tax rate by 2 cents, the Chesterfield Observer asked several residents how they felt about the reduction and how it might impact the county's future. Some are still perplexed over rising property assessments when the national housing market is on the decline, while others questioned if less revenue will leave the police and fire/EMS departments without the funding they need to keep the county safe. Others felt the demand for county services is fueled by new development, and those costs should be passed on to developers.

Regardless of who we asked, they all had an opinion. Here's what they had to say:

 

Ashley Johnson

Salisbury

"I was surprised by the assessments going up because of the housing market conditions. I would have preferred to see the tax rate stay the same. appreciate the gesture, but hope that the thinking is balanced so that community services aren't significantly impacted or disrupted."

Catherine Hamm

Bon Air

"Regarding our elected officials, I have to trust them to make decisions that are in line with what their constituents want. If you voted for someone, whether you agree or disagree with their position, you need to call them to be sure they hear from you. You should keep in touch with your elected official. If you don't do that, then you can't point the finger at them. [With regards to the new budget,] I assume that police and schools are going to be impacted."

Joseph Taylor

Surreywood

Hamm

"[The board of supervisors] need to be doing a better job. Our home assessments shouldn't have gone up. They need to add more police and make our community safer."

Tracey Jackson

Midlothian

"It is hard to believe in the current real estate market that assessment values have increased. I would hope that the board of supervisors would find other avenues to increase revenue instead of on the backs of its citizens in such a hard economy. I would ask the board of supervisors to allow the builders and other businesses to pay increased taxes."

Lloyd Gregory

Queensmill

Taylor

"I don't have a problem with increases [in tax rates] as long as it's targeted for county infrastructure like our roads and schools. I would support additional expenses for law enforcement and fire safety. I'd also ask the Chesterfield Board of Supervisors to slow down the development in our county that they are allowing."

Robert Dortch

Long Meadow

"I don't have a problem with how the [additional revenue from] assessments is being spent and would prefer that increased tax revenue would be used to support social services and programs. Our county government needs to find balance between development and social programs."

Don Self Deer Run

"I guess I still don't understand why the assessments go up year after year as my taxes go up too. I'm not very happy about it. It's just crazy what they're doing. I worry about safety in the county, and I care that the police get the money they need."

Gregory Dortch