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states, put controls on property tax increases, an issue that will undoubtedly be addressed by the next General Assembly session. Virginia at the moment is one of just seven states that requires assessing real estate at fair market value for tax purposes.
Beleaguered governing bodies in urban-suburban areas, faced with the politically unpopular task of finding revenue to pay for the kinds of services citizens want, face tough times ahead.
The federal budget crunch has caused a disappearing act for most of the grants and loans that used to be available to local governments. And though the state has mandated many programs to localities, it has not always provided the funding or funding mechanisms to pay for them.
As a result, local governing bodies have not had to raise property taxes frequently, but have increasingly resorted to alternative taxes on such things as amusements, food, gasoline and others to bring in more money.
Since Virginia does not yet have initiative and referendum, a Califor
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