2025 County Reassessment Notices Mailed
Published on January 27, 2025
Farmville, VA (January 27, 2025)-- Prince Edward County property owners are getting a closer look at the new values of their properties following the mailing of the 2025 reassessment notices this week. The reassessment process, completed by Wampler Eanes Appraisal Group, updated property values across the county, with an average increase across all classes of properties of 40%. Reassessments in Virginia are required by state law and aim to ensure that property assessments reflect 100% of fair market value. Prince Edward County is on a four-year reassessment cycle.
What Does an Increased Assessment Mean?
While a higher assessment may suggest an increase in property value, it does not automatically result in higher taxes. It is important to note that the County real estate tax rate for 2025 has not yet been set. Tax rates are established annually in April by the Board of Supervisors during the county’s budget process. A public hearing on the tax rate and the FY26 County Budget will be advertised in the local newspaper and posted on the Prince Edward County website at www.co.prince-edward.va.us. The County encourages residents to engage in the County’s budget process by participating in public hearings scheduled in April for both the setting of tax rates and approving the budget.
What Happens Next?
Property owners have an opportunity to appeal their new reassessed values to Wampler Eanes Appraisal Group if they believe adjustments are needed and may file an appeal by mail, email, phone or by scheduling an in-person hearing.
Written appeals, including supporting documents or photos, can be mailed to “Reassessment Office” c/o P.O. Box 382, Farmville, VA 23901, or emailed to PrinceEdward2025@gmail.com, and must be received by February 21. The tear-off portion at the bottom of your reassessment notice is what a property owner should return by mail, or scan and send by email.
To schedule a hearing appointment, property owners should call 434-569-3007 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, or email PrinceEdward2025@gmail.com. The County encourages citizens to call or email by February 11thto ensure an in-person appointment. Assessor hearings will be held February 12, 13, 14, 18 and 19, 2025, on the Third Floor of the Prince Edward County Courthouse. Appointments are required.
The Reassessment Notice shows the new value of your property. Every effort has been made to reassess your property accurately and equitably, however, there are several ways to appeal the reassessment if you feel the reassessed value does not accurately:
- Represent the current fair market value of your property, or
- Use accurate property data and you believe there are errors, such as the acreage or square footage of the assessment, or
- Show consistency with similar properties in your area.
Individual property records can be reviewed at the Commissioner of Revenue’s Office, located on the second floor of the Prince Edward County Courthouse. Additionally, property owners who wish to view and make copies of assessment records that were used in arriving at the assessed values of the land and any improvements may contact Wampler Eanes at the phone number or email provided in your reassessment notice.
Next Steps: Board of Equalization
Property owners dissatisfied with the outcome or chose not to participate in the informal appeal process can escalate their concerns to the County’s Board of Equalization (BOE). The BOE, comprised of five county residents trained by the Virginia Department of Taxation and appointed by the Circuit Court, will begin considering appeals after April 1, 2025. Cases will be reviewed by the BOE on dates to-be-determined and advertised in the paper.
After reviewing an appeal, the BOE will determine whether to increase, decrease, or affirm the assessment. At this point in the appeal process, the BOE presumes that the reassessed value is correct, so the taxpayer or agent must present clear evidence that the assessment of the property is not uniform with the assessments of other similar properties or that the property is assessed in excess of its fair market value. Comparable sales data, property information, and details on incorrect property statistics should be presented for an appeal to the BOE.
Reasons for Reassessments
Reassessments are essential to keeping property values fair and up to date. Factors such as changing market conditions, home improvements, rezonings, or acreage adjustments can all influence property values. Over time, these changes can result in disparities that the reassessment process seeks to correct, ensuring an equitable distribution of property taxes.
In Summary
When you receive your new property value notice (reassessment notice) and you do not agree with the value you may take the following steps below to file an appeal:
- First file an informal appeal with the assessing firm, Wampler Eanes.
- If you disagree with the outcome from the assessing firm, your second option is to file an appeal to the Board of Equalization, after April 1.
- If you miss having a hearing with the Board of Equalization, you can appeal to the Prince Edward County Circuit Court, per Section 58.1-3350 of the Code of Virginia.
Questions
Any questions regarding property records may be directed to the Commissioner of Revenue’s Office at 434-392-3231. If citizens have questions about reassessment notices, please call Wampler Eanes Appraisal Group at (434) 569-3007 until Wednesday, February 19, 2025.