As a realtor in Chickahominy Haven I know we all are concerned about our property values and our taxes with James City County. I wanted to give you some information on the Storm Water Fee that was included on our Real Estate Tax bill due on December 5th. The Storm Water Division was established this year to ensure that the collection and control of storm water within the county protects the health and welfare of the citizens here. All home owners in JCC are being charged a minimum of $58.80 a year (based on the median square foot home in JCC of 3235 s.f.). If your home is smaller than that - which most of our homes are - we are still charged the $58.80 a year. Even if the whole neighborhood paid the minimum Storm Water Fee of $58.80 - Chickahominy Haven is paying the county approximately $21,000 a year for this fee/service in addition to our high real estate taxes.
The Storm Water Division has a drainage improvement program authorized by the Board of Supervisors and funded through the Storm Water Service Fee. This program works together with property owners and residents to address drainage and erosion problems that are negatively affecting residents and/or County waterways. The Storm Water Division provides technical guidance and assistance and, where appropriate, may provide financial assistance in the design and implementation of solutions. You can call the county at 757-259-1460 and schedule an inspector to come look at your property to assess any drainage and erosion problems you may have. They may (or may not) offer assistance through the program for the correction of any problems found.
You can get more information on the program at www.jccegoc.com/stormwater or you may call them at the above number. I have already made my call to the inspector.
Anonymous
The "fee" is not a fee but a tax. A fee is for a specific use or service like water supply from a municipality, a toll road, or charge by weight or load at a landfill. As usual, the county environmental staff fouled up. They approved lots of construction, homes and business, where stormwater facilities were required - but the never modified deeds to require the property owners to maintain the facilities. Now, they need money to maintain those facilities - in other parts of the county. To avoid making the BOS be criticized for raising taxes, they simply instituted a tax and called it a fee. I and citizens of Chicahominy Haven plan to ask a county staff environmental supervisor to come to Chickahominy Haven and point out to us the stormwater facilitie here which we use and are being charged a fee!! I've already discussed this with our supervisor.
May 18, 2008 04:20 PM
#1
Anonymous
The "fee" is not a fee but a tax. A fee is for a specific use or service like water supply from a municipality, a toll road, or charge by weight or load at a landfill. As usual, the county environmental staff fouled up. They approved lots of construction, homes and business, where stormwater facilities were required - but the never modified deeds to require the property owners to maintain the facilities. Now, they need money to maintain those facilities - in other parts of the county. To avoid making the BOS be criticized for raising taxes, they simply instituted a tax and called it a fee. I and citizens of Chicahominy Haven plan to ask a county staff environmental supervisor to come to Chickahominy Haven and point out to us the stormwater facilitie here which we use and are being charged a fee!! I've already discussed this with our supervisor.
May 18, 2008 04:20 PM
#2
RE/MAX Capital - Providence Forge, VA
Experienced, Professional Realtor
Richard- I also live in the Haven and have asked many months ago for someone from the county to come out. As you can imagine - they have not. I agree completely - this is their way of sneaking another tax in!
May 19, 2008 07:30 AM
Rainmaker
68,506
68,506
Susan Oliver
Experienced, Professional Realtor
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