By Taylor Boyd
The Patrick County Board of Supervisors held the line on the real estate tax rate at its March 9 meeting. The rate for the upcoming fiscal year will not exceed 73 cents per $100 of assessed value.
The real estate tax rate was last increased in fiscal year 2021-22, from 68 cents to 73 cents per $100 of value.
After the meeting, Andrew Overby, chairman, and of the Dan River District, gave credit for the steady rate to county officials.
“Our great county administrator and staff have done an awesome job at getting our budget to where it needs to be so that we don’t need to increase taxes,” he said.
With the real estate reassessment occurring this year, Overby said the county and the board won’t know any potential impacts it will have on the real estate tax rate until later in the year.
“Everything is still based on the current values, so no that wouldn’t go into effect until after the first of January. We won’t receive the actual evaluations until toward the end of this year, so it will be effective for next year,” he said.
Since the county has a balanced budget, Clayton Kendrick, vice-chairman and of the Mayo River District, said the real estate tax rate can be held at its current rate.
“They did good on that budget,” he said.
In other matters, the board:
*Heard from Galen Gilbert about more recent car accidents at the intersection of U.S. Route 58, Spring Road, and South Mayo Drive in the Patrick Springs area.
*Heard from Disaster Relief Food Ministry Inc. President Jimmy Willard about the organization.
*Scheduled a public hearing for the April 13 meeting regarding the proposed fiscal year 2026-27 county budget.
*Scheduled a public hearing for the April 13 meeting for the rural rustic roads and secondary six-year plan.
*Approved a resolution naming Hayden Road a rural rustic road.
*Approved transitioning Patrick County Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to be a non-transport agency.
*Held a public hearing regarding a proposed hay cutting lease.
*Awarded Jimmy and Carol Willard, the founders of Disaster Relief Food Ministry Inc., the Patrick County Partner award.
*Recognized retired Building Inspector Jason Brown for his tenure with the county.
*Overby was presented with his Virginia Certified County Supervisor Program award from Virginia Association of Counties (VACO) Director of Programs and Development Karie Walker.
*Approved a capital improvement funding request from the Patrick Springs Volunteer Fire Department.
*Approved going with vendor B for the breezeway construction project at DeHart Park and making the deposit required to begin construction. The bid was $19,727 for breezeway and ticket booth repairs.
*Approved E911 radio tower improvements.
*Approved six resolutions that would allow the county to seek 2026 Virginia Dam Safety, Flood Prevention and Protection Assistance Fund grant funding.
*Accepted Appalachian Power (AEP) changes in the right of way.
*Appointed Jerry Adams to the West Piedmont Planning District Commission as the At Large member.
*Appointed Terry Tilley to the Public Service Authority (PSA) for a second term.
*Heard an update from Animal Control Officer Wanda Vaden regarding the Patrick County Animal Shelter.
*Heard an update from Department of Social Services Director Carol Craig.
*Heard an update from Erosion & Sediment Control/Stormwater Management Administrator Mark Vernon.
*Approved the Feb. 9 and Feb. 20 meeting minutes.
*Approved the bills, claims, and appropriations.
*Heard the county administrator’s report.
*Heard the supervisors’ reports.
