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Political Tool
Bob Dennis, Flint Hill landowner who gave up development rights on his property under the Scenic Easement Program, reported that Fauquier residents are trying to hinder approval of a proposed Upperville subdivision by forming an ag district. “They’re saying ‘Not only do we not like the idea (of the subdivision) but we’re willing to commit our land to farming.’ ”
Acknowleging that he was not a farmer but did own acres in woodland, Howard Holschuh asked if he would qualify as a member of an ag district.
Capelle answered that Holschuch could join only if his property met criteria on production of forestal products. In Fauquier County, he reported, landowners with property considered to be insignificant for agricultural or forestal production were recently asked to withdraw from the district application by the board of supervisors.
Before filing an application for a district, Capelle suggested that landowners let their supervisors know a group is interested. “Let them know its kind of brewing...When you spring things on elected officials they kind of dig their heels in,” he said.
The major impact that approval of an ag district has on a county is the allowance of use value taxation on qualifying property within the district, stated Phil Irwin. "There are many people in Rappahannock County who feel that we can’t afford land use taxation (because) we have no base on which to shift the tax burden,” he explained.
Carson Johnson asked for an estimate on the use value tax that would be applied to property assessed at $175 per acre.
No Advantage Now
Under the current assessment in Rappahannock County, “there would be no advantage what-so-ever” with use value taxation, Westfelt replied. “You have to look to the future. You won’t have any benefits now but just wait ten or 15 years,” he predicted.
“We have some really weird assessments here in
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