Two Citizens Raise Camping Fee Concerns
In addition to not having to pay higher taxes this year, Buena Vista residents will have an additional 25 days to pay their tax bills.
City Council this past Thursday approved a request from Commissioner of Revenue Ashton Beverley and Treasurer Amy Hudson, to extend the due date for personal property and real estate taxes for the first half of the year from June 5 to June 30.
The reason for the extension is that new software being used by the city offices is creating issues with the billing system. Both offices closed early Tuesday to address the software issues but regular office hours were to resume today, Wednesday.
A public hearing was held Thursday on the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget and tax rates. Interim City Manager Wayne Handley went over the highlights of the budget and two citizens addressed Council on their concerns about proposed increases to camping rates at Glen Maury Park.
“I strongly believe that raising the camping rates is the wrong approach at this time,” said Connie Humphries. “Camping attendance is already down compared to previous years and the park has already lost several long-time monthly campers to other campgrounds that offer more activities at a competitive price.” She added, “Many residents are already struggling under one of the highest tax rates in Virginia and increasing campground prices only adds to that burden while making our park less competitive with surrounding campgrounds.”
Sue Coffey asked if City Council would consider giving city residents a “break on the costs” for camping at the park. “We’re already paying taxes to support these things. Why can’t we get a reduced rate?”
Addressing Humphries’s comments about the park’s camping rates comparing unfavorably with other campgrounds in the region, Council member Stephanie Noel-Branch pointed out that there are other fees associated with the charges at other campgrounds. For example, one campground that purportedly had lower fees charges extra for electricity usage and imposes additional fees for extra visitors to campsites. Also, some campgrounds have what is called “dynamic pricing,” meaning they charge higher prices during busier periods.
Council member Michelle Poluikis said she understands the concerns citizens have about having to pay higher camping and swimming pool fees but she’d rather raise those fees than city tax rates. She expressed amazement that city officials have been able to close what was a $1.9 million budgetary gap between planned expenditures and projected revenues without raising taxes.
A first reading was held on the proposed budget that holds the real estate tax rate at 98 cents per $100 value and the personal property tax rate at $5.85. The 25 cents per pack cigarette tax that was established Jan. 1 is to stay the same.
The monthly trash collection fee for residential customers is being raised from $23 to $25 and rates for commercial customers are also going up. Water usage rates are staying at $8.58 per 1,000 gallons but sewer rates are rising from $10.04 to $11.04 per 1,000 gallons to help pay for rising costs associated with making upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant.
In his budget presentation, Handley noted the challenges the city faced this year in holding the line on taxes. Right off the top, the city’s share of the costs for the schools went up by $265,000 because of a rise in the composite index. Also, health insurance costs are going up by 14.6 percent, or $150,000, and worker compensation costs are rising by $71,000. Handley pointed out that neighboring jurisdictions’ health insurance rates are going up even higher, which affects Buena Vista because of the city’s participation in regional entities.
Handley emphasized that the city is going to continue to face huge financial challenges in the years ahead. While the city is addressing the immediate issues regarding the wastewater treatment plant, he said, “Ultimately,” the plant “must be replaced. That is not going to be an option. It has been kicked down the road long enough and the road has now ended. And so I want to make sure that that is out here on our respective radars. And I will be updating everyone as we go along of what we have going on and what we’re looking at so that we can make responsible decisions as we are going down into FY28, FY29 and so forth.”
As for FY27, City Council is slated to approve the budget and accompanying tax and fee rates at Council’s next meeting on Thursday, May 21.
