SENATE BILL NO. 731 Offered February 8, 2006 A BILL to amend and reenact § 58.1-3330 of the Code of Virginia, relating to notice of change in assessment of real property. ----------
Patrons-- Herring, Deeds, Howell, Locke, Lucas, Puller, Saslaw, Ticer and Whipple
---------- Introduced at the request of Governor ---------- Referred to Committee on Finance ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 58.1-3330 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 58.1-3330. Notice of change in assessment.

A. Whenever in any county, city or town there is a reassessment of real estate, or any change in the assessed value of any real estate, notice shall be given by mail directly to each property owner, as shown by the land books of the county, city or town whose assessment has been changed. Such notice shall be sent by postpaid mail at least fifteen days prior to the date of a hearing to protest such change to the address of the property owner as shown on such land books. The governing body of the county, city or town shall require the officer of such county, city or town charged with the assessment of real estate to send such notices or it shall provide funds or services to the persons making such reassessment so that such persons can send such notices.

B. Every notice shall, among other matters, show the magisterial or other district, if any, in which the real estate is located, the amount and the new and immediately prior appraised value of land, the new and immediately prior appraised value of improvements, and the new and immediately prior assessed value of each if different from the appraised value. It shall further set out the time and place at which persons may appear before the officers making such reassessment or change and present objections thereto. If the tax rate that will apply to the new assessed value has been established, then the notice shall set out such rate, the total amount of the new tax levy, and the percentage change in the new tax levy from the immediately prior one. If the tax rate that will apply to the new assessed value has not been established, then the notice shall set out the time and place of the next meeting of the local governing body at which public testimony will be accepted on any real estate tax rate changes. If this meeting will be more than 60 days from the date of the reassessment notice, then instead of the date of the meeting, the notice shall include information on when the date of the meeting will be set and where it will be publicized.  In counties which have elected by ordinance to prepare land and personal property books in alphabetical order as authorized by § 58.1-3301 B such notice may omit reference to districts as provided herein.

C. Any person other than the owner who receives such reassessment notice, shall transmit the notice to such owner, at his last known address, immediately on receipt thereof, and shall be liable to such owner in an action at law for liquidated damages in the amount of twenty-five dollars, in the event of a failure to so transmit the notice. Mailing such notice to the last known address of the property owner shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this section.

D. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, if the address of the taxpayer as shown on the tax record is in care of a lender, the lender shall upon request furnish the county, city or town a list of such property owners, together with their current addresses as they appear on the books of the lender, or the parties may by agreement permit the lender to forward such notices to the property owner, with the cost of postage to be paid by the county, city or town.