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Wi < < E `. <br />AN ORDINANCE TO PROVIDE TAXPAYERS WITH REAL ESTATE TAX <br />RELIEF IN THE FORM OF A CREDIT IN THE AMOUNT OF FIVE CENTS <br />($0.05) PER ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100) OF ASSESSED VALUE TO BE <br />APPLIED TO EACH QUARTERLY REAL ESTATE TAX BILL ISSUED FOR <br />FISCAL YEAR 2024. <br />WHEREAS, Virginia Code § 15.2 -950 provides that a locality may make <br />appropriations for the support of the locality, the performance of its functions, and the <br />accomplishment of all other lawful purposes and objectives; and <br />WHEREAS, Virginia Code § 15.2 -940 provides that the locality may expend <br />funds from the locally derived revenues of the locality for the purpose of promoting the <br />resources and advantages of the locality; and <br />WHEREAS, real property in the City has been assessed for taxation for the fiscal <br />year beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2024, and real estate taxes will be levied <br />and collected for the fiscal year based on that assessment; and <br />WHEREAS, due to a sharp spike in real estate values, assessments of real <br />property in the City are substantially higher than in recent years; and <br />WHEREAS, the City Council desires to alleviate the tax impact of such <br />increased real property assessments to taxpayers by means of a temporary real estate tax <br />relief program enacted pursuant to Virginia Code §§ 15.2 -950 and 15.2 -940. <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of <br />Portsmouth, Virginia: <br />1. Taxpayers to receive tax relief. In the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, <br />and ending June 30, 2024, all owners of Qualified Properties (as defined hereinafter) <br />shall receive real estate tax relief in the form of credits equal to five cents ($0.05) per <br />each $100 of the assessed value of such Qualified Property (each such credit referred to <br />hereafter as a "Relief Credit "). For purposes of this ordinance, a "Qualified Property" is <br />any parcel of real property separately assessed for real estate taxation by the City in the <br />fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024, except for any property <br />which is entirely exempt from real estate taxation during that fiscal year or for which no <br />tax bill would otherwise be issued. <br />2. How Relief Credits disbursed. A Relief Credit shall be applied <br />automatically to each quarterly real estate tax bill issued to each owner of a Qualified <br />Property during the fiscal year aforesaid. The amount of each such Relief Credit shall <br />equal five cents ($0.05) per each $100 of the taxable assessed value upon which the tax <br />liability in each bill was calculated. If any Relief Credit exceeds the total taxes due in the <br />bill to which the Relief Credit was applied (due to prepayment or otherwise), the <br />remainder of such Relief Credit shall be applied to future real estate taxes levied upon <br />