It’s not just here in Page County, but across the U.S.
We all value our inalienable rights, but they should not be taken at the expense of, nor denied to, others. I’ve met so many kind, hard working people here in the last six years, and I’ve been taken advantage of by countless boneheads. What I see is people who have cow-towed down to accepting how it is. Please, please fight for what is right and against what isn’t.
On my short list today is a lack of communication (I’m not on any social media. I don’t have a cell phone.), a lack of clearly defined regulations and more important, enforcement of them, a drug problem that goes on and on without a fix, incompetence and a lot of ostriches with their heads in the sand.
The 2026 property reassessment proves (to me) the ridiculousness and incompetence of management in Page County. My house was built in 2003. It took an assessment in 2020 for the county to determine the house was not built at the approved 1,288 square feet, but was 1,512 square feet. What I bought was misrepresented and the two previous owners got away with the lower taxes.
I’ve already paid for their error. I suspect the good ole’ boys club was at work. Tentatively, my home and property are being reassessed with a 79.83-percent increase.
I came here to retire peacefully and affordably.
It’s not working.
Impairing local careers and local healthcare
Virginia must stand up to platforms breaking state’s sports betting laws
Company 24 donates to Casey’s Backpack
In response to Pollack’s complaint about Warner coverup
Another Justice Department cover-up?
Concerns about FirstEnergy’s transmission tower rebuild between Luray and Sperryville
Local teachers strive to protect students from federal funding cuts
Thanks to Community Works 4Page for healthcare panel discussion
How federal cuts to healthcare affect you, your family, and your friends
Call for public involvement in deciding how to use the county’s Goodrich Road property
The way I understand it, the skyrocketing personal property assessment is due to the wealthy short term rental owners (cabins, AirBNBs), many who do not even live in Page County, working with Republicans in the county, some who have a lot of money and influence to throw at candidates running for Board of Supervisors last year. The goal was to eliminate the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT). The TOT a brought in couple million each year and now the onus on raising this money has been placed on less wealthy permanent county homeowners. Another example of “no or low taxes for the wealthy but higher taxes for everyone else” MO of the MAGA Party.
Richard Jones, the first part of your statement is true; short term rentals have indeed driven up property values in Page County. Many of the STRs are indeed owned by people who do not live here. The second part of your commentary is blatantly false. You suggest that these outsiders colluded with Republicans, who threw money at candidates for Supervisor. The candidates spent very little on their campaigns, and this can be verified on the Va Board of Elections website. You also falsely claimed that the goal was to eliminate the Transient Occupancy Tax;are you shocked to learn, sir, that the Board of Supervisors voted to INCREASE the TOT from five percent to ten percent? I would think someone living and owning property in Page County would be aware of this fact. I doubt that you live here, or own property.
Respectfully,
Eric R. Smith
As I understand the following, in Virginia, short term rentals are classified differently from straight residential real property. Or no? “When short-term rentals (STRs) are classified, it means local governments are defining them—typically as residential stays of fewer than 30 consecutive days—to regulate, tax, and zone them, often distinguishing between primary residences, entire homes, or accessory dwellings. This classification, often used for Airbnb or VRBO, ensures compliance with safety, noise, and permit regulations.”
Thank You both Richard and Robert for commenting. The costs mounting up each day as a result of adversarial political beliefs divides this country. Finding a fix to the problems is important to me. I’m not a Republican or a Democrat. I was taught to not just complain to the boss without bringing viable solutions to the table. Let’s find solutions working together, please. When the cost of living in Page County becomes too high, where are we all going to go?
Mr. Smith, Would you elaborate and educate me, please. I did not see your comments posted until today. Are you saying that keeping the areas around Luray as a tourist attraction destination is behind our escalating taxes for residence owners who live here?
It is doubtful that your TAXES will escalate, since the Board of Supervisors will no doubt lower the tax rate to balance out the higher assessment values. Luray, and Page County, is a tourist destination. We live in a wonderful, beautiful place. People visit, and remember their visit. During and after Covid, many people from more urban areas were looking to move to a rural setting, and they came to Page. They often paid far more than the asking value for a home (far more than the appraised value, as well).Some of these people chose to reside here. A few saw an opportunity, and purchased homes to establish short term rentals. There are many naysayers and sceptics who fail to see the connection between Covid, and higher assessments. I would encourage them to read Mr. Arrington’s recent article in the Page Valley News. It includes some eye-opening data, including the average length of time a home remained on the market. I am not an economist, but I do have common sense. At some point and time, markets become saturated, profits become less, and changes are made. People paying exorbitant amounts of money for homes here in Page (and in other rural areas) will slow, and home prices will gradually return to near-normal valuations. This is my hope. I love my county, and I want people to be able to live and thrive here.
Eric, you and Mr. Arrington and everyone else seem to miss a few simple points when you’re defending our local politicians. First, the relationship between tax assessed value and market value is arbitrary. One really has nothing to do with the other as it shouldn’t. Second, the explanation of why market value going up is not an explanation to why the county needs more revenue. I have heard zero explanation from local leaders why they need more of my money.
I agree with you. It is beautiful here. Having scenic views was important to me as I left a lake community in southern NY. The mountain views here, the cloud formations, the stars on a clear night, the wildlife… Photography has become my retirement passion. What I miss most is 65 years of living somewhere where I knew all my neighbors. I’m advocating for people to get to know one another. The America I love is a place of common ground, commitment and giving.
Wow. What a wonderful response. You made me smile. I hope you make many friends, and take pictures your old buddies in southern NY are envious of. Oh, and I also hope your taxes do not go up. 😁