Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Richmond City Council to consider Richmond Real Estate Tax exemption for U.S. Military Veterans with 100 percent disability

RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
Richmond City Council – Richmond City Hall - 900 E. Broad Street, Suite 200 - Richmond, VA 23219 - www.council.richmondva.gov

COUNCIL PUBLIC INFORMATION NEWS ADVISORY
IMMEDIATE RELEASE TO BE FORWARDED AND SHARED
Tuesday, 14 June 2011

Richmond City Council to consider Richmond Real Estate Tax exemption for U.S. Military Veterans with 100 percent disability

Proposed Ordinance to be reviewed by Richmond City Council Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee on Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.

(Richmond, Virginia U.S.A. June 14, 2011) – On Monday, June 13, 2011, Richmond City Council President, Kathy Graziano, Southwest 4th District, introduced a proposed Richmond City Council Ordinance to grant permanent and total Richmond Real Estate Tax exemptions to U. S. Military Veterans who have a 100 percent service-related disability.

The proposed Ordinance, if approved and to become law, would exempt the dwelling and land (not to exceed one acre) of the primary residence of a U.S. Military Veteran who has been declared by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as having a 100 percent service-related permanent and total disability.

The law would include the current 2011 Richmond Real Estate Tax Year (calendar) and be retroactive to January 1, 2011. For applicants who qualify after they have paid their Richmond Real Estate Taxes for this year, a refund would be granted.

The surviving spouse of a veteran eligible for the exemption would also qualify for the exemption if the death of the veteran occurs after January 1, 2011, and the surviving spouse does not remarry and continues to occupy the property as a primary place of residence. There would be no age or income limitation on the program.

The Richmond Real Estate Tax Exemption for U.S. Military Veterans who are Disabled Program would be administered by the Richmond City Council Office of the Assessor of Real Estate.

Staff estimates are that the measure would result in about $75,000 in tax abatements for the first year.

The next step for the proposed Ordinance to create the Richmond Real Estate Tax Exemption for U.S. Military Veterans who are Disabled Program is for it to be reviewed by the Richmond City Council Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee at the upcoming meeting scheduled for Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. in Richmond City Council Chambers, Richmond City Hall, 900 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 22191. This meeting is free and open to the public.

CONTACT For more information, please contact David Hathcock, Liaison, Office of Richmond City Council President Kathy Graziano, at 804.320.2454, or email: david.hathcock@richmondgov.com


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Steven R. Skinner, APR
Council Public Information Manager
Office of the Chief of Staff
RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL
Richmond City Hall
900 E. Broad Street, Suite 305
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804.646.6052 (office)
804.335.4054 (mobile)
804.937.1386 (home/mobile)
804.646.5468 (fax)
skinnesr@ci.richmond.va.us (email)
www.council.richmondva.gov(website)
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