Supervisors privilege special interests over taxpayers

Cash proffers on new development were eliminated by the Hanover County Board of Supervisors tonight in a 4-2 vote, with one member absent.

Supervisors also voted to advertise a public hearing January 9th on a proposal to implement a $10 per vehicle fee to raise approximately $1.3 million to replace current revenue from cash proffers.

Elsewhere, Chesapeake voted to keep but revise its proffer policy.

Virginia’s Annual Cash Proffer Survey for Fiscal Year 2010-11.

Virginia is the only state in the United States using cash proffers on such a large-scale as a growth management tool.  To learn more, download and read this dissertation entitled “Land use politics southern style : the case of cash proffers in Virginia.”

Upcoming Proffer Workshop!

Please attend the Proffer Workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 28th at 5 p.m. 
 

There is movement afoot to transfer the cost of infrastructure caused by new residential development to citizen taxpayers of Hanover County. Rather than ask developers to continue to facilitate paying for roads, schools, fire/EMS, libraries and parks due to the influx of new home construction, the Hanover County Board of Supervisors may decide, as early as this week, to eliminate cash proffers and instead ask all citizens to foot the bill. Eliminating cash proffers will not only impact your wallets, but also your quality of life for years to come!

So they may better understand the impact of eliminating cash proffers, the Board of Supervisors plans to hold a Workshop on Wednesday, November 28th at 5 p.m.  We, the Coalition for Hanover’s Future, implore fellow citizens to attend this week’s Workshop.

Background: The home building community comprised of developers and realtors has for years appealed to Supervisor candidates to eliminate cash proffers. This year the new Board of Supervisors appointed a Cash Proffers & Capital Funding Committee to study and recommend alternative sources for generating revenue. The Proffer Committee developed two proposals. In a 7-4 split vote, it was decided that only one proposal move forward. The Committee reported to the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 14th.

What is the Recommendation? To eliminate cash proffers! Cash proffers, one revenue source set aside for infrastructure – roads and facilities for schools, fire/EMS, libraries, and parks – would disappear! To replace this loss, it’s suggested the Supervisors can implement fees/taxes; a vehicle fee was named, among other possibilities. The Supervisors will likely vote on this issue on Nov. 28th. They can accept it, deny it and/or tweak it.

Worst Case Scenario? Rather than vote to accept the recommendation, it’s possible that the majority of Supervisors could alternatively

  • vote to eliminate proffers, but
  • not enact a vehicle fee to replace the proffers, and instead
  • let the county budget makeup the difference!
The result? Cuts to facilities and roads, to services new residents and to services received by current taxpayers. Developers are asking to stop facilitating the process that addresses increased infrastructure costs that their new development creates, and instead to pass it on to taxpayers, or to cut the very services that make Hanover County a desirable place for them to build.

What Can We Do? This is a citizen issue! It’s critically important that we do everything we can to let the Board of Supervisors know we do not want proffers eliminated.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE.

Call or Email Your Supervisor NOW! Tell them you want to keep proffers; do not eliminate them. You can also contact all Supervisors.

Come to the Workshop on Wednesday, November 28th, 5 p.m.

Please turn out and bring small signs (8×10) to the Supervisors’ Workshop this Wednesday. Although the public is invited to come and listen, the workshop is not a public hearing and a sign may be your only way to publicly express your opinion. Large signs aren’t permitted indoors. But a small 8×10-size sign works well. It can be held under your coat until needed. Suggestions: No New Taxes, Development Should Pay Its Way, Keep Proffers, Proffers Yes, Taxes No, etc. 

Please Spread the Word!

The 2-page Proffer Committee Recommendation, and 128 pages of support documents, can be read on the Hanover County website.

Call to Action! Attend Workshop on Nov. 28th at 5 p.m.

This is an unabashed call to action. Please call an or email your Supervisor, and attend this week’s Workshop on the proposed elimination of proffers.  A vote is likely – if approved, your wallet and quality of life will be affected.

Attend Workshop This week, Wednesday, Nov. 28th, 5 p.m.

There is movement afoot to transfer the cost of infrastructure caused by new residential development to citizen taxpayers of Hanover County. Rather than ask developers to continue to facilitate paying for roads, schools, fire/EMS, libraries and parks due to the influx of new home construction, the Hanover County Board of Supervisors may decide, as early as this week, to eliminate cash proffers and instead ask all citizens to foot the bill. Eliminating cash proffers will not only impact your wallets, but also your quality of life for years to come!

So they may better understand the impact of eliminating cash proffers, the Board of Supervisors plans to hold a Workshop on Wednesday, November 28th at 5 p.m. We, the Coalition for Hanover’s Future, implore fellow citizens to attend this week’s Workshop.

Background:

The home building community comprised of developers and realtors has for years appealed to Supervisor candidates to eliminate cash proffers. This year the new Board of Supervisors appointed a Cash Proffers & Capital Funding Committee to study and recommend alternative sources for generating revenue. The Proffer Committee developed two proposals. In a 7-4 split vote, it was decided that only one proposal move forward. The Committee reported to the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 14th.

What is the Recommendation?

To eliminate cash proffers! Cash proffers, one revenue source set aside for infrastructure – roads and facilities for schools, fire/EMS, libraries, and parks – would disappear! To replace this loss, it’s suggested the Supervisors can implement fees/taxes; a vehicle fee was named, among other possibilities. The Supervisors will likely vote on this issue on Nov. 28th. They can accept it, deny it and/or tweak it.

Worst Case Scenario?

Rather than vote to accept the recommendation, it’s possible that the majority of Supervisors could alternatively vote to eliminate proffers, but not enact a vehicle fee to replace the proffers, and instead let the county budget makeup the difference!

The result?

Cuts to facilities and roads, to services new residents and to services received by current taxpayers. Developers are asking to stop facilitating the process that addresses increased infrastructure costs that their new development creates, and instead to pass it on to taxpayers, or to cut the very services that make Hanover County a desirable place for them to build.

What Can We Do?

This is a citizen issue! It’s critically important that we do everything we can to let the Board of Supervisors know we do not want proffers eliminated. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. 

Call or email your Supervisor NOW!
Tell them you want to keep proffers; do not eliminate them.
You can also contact all Supervisors.

Come to the Workshop on Nov. 28th at 5 p.m.   Although the public is invited to come and listen, the workshop is not a public hearing and a sign may be your only way to publicly express your opinion.

Do you want to pay more in taxes!?

On Wednesday, November 28 at 5 p.m., the Hanover County Board of Supervisors are holding a Proffer Workshop at 5 p.m.  

There is movement afoot to TRANSFER COSTS incurred by the homebuilding industry (i.e., roads, schools, police, fire) to citizens of Hanover County.  It is critically important that we let the Board of Supervisors know that WE DO NOT WANT PROFFERS ELIMINATED.

Please join us next Wednesday, November 28th at 5 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors Proffer Workshop.  The workshop will take place in the room where the Board of Supervisors hold their regularly scheduled meetings.

Will Vehicle Fee Replace Proffers?

This Wednesday, November 14th, the Hanover County Board of Supervisors will receive a report from its appointed Cash Proffer and Capital Funding Committee. Although a split decision, the committee will recommend the elimination of proffers. To offset the loss of revenue from eliminated proffers, the committee will propose that the Board of Supervisors implement taxes and/or fees, including a vehicle fee.

Remember the car windshield decal? In the past, the vehicle fee was required for every car, truck, trailer and motorcycle that used county roads. Farm vehicles were excluded. Car decals at that time cost residents $10. How much will this fee be, if revived? (Note: The Town of Ashland is excluded.)

What are proffers?

Proffers are a one-time fee paid by the developer to help offset the cost of services demanded by residents of new housing being built. Although the costs of services are ongoing, proffers are a ‘voluntary’ set amount to help the county, and therefore existing taxpayers, pay for the capital cost of schools, roads, fire/police, libraries and parks. Capital costs, for example, are buildings and major repairs.

Every new home built on a lot of less than 10 acres, one that was rezoned for residential construction, is subject to proffers. The proffer is rolled into the total purchase price of the new home. Proffer amounts are set by the Board of Supervisors and the monies are applied to capital costs, not services.

The Board of Supervisors meeting on Nov. 14th begins at 2 p.m. The Proffer report is early on the agenda. Please arrive by 2 p.m. because early agenda items move along quickly. It’s expected that no action will be taken at this time.

The committee summary and entire report is available on the county website – Board of Supervisors: Meetings/Agendas: Agendas: Nov. 14, 2012. Click on Item VII highlighted in yellow. A direct link isn’t available.