Va. to Consider Tax Exemption for Spouses of First Responders Killed in Line of Duty

April 19--DINWIDDIE--Dinwiddie County is considering exempting the spouses of first responders killed in the line of duty from real estate taxes, in line with a constitutional amendment that Virginia voters passed at the polls this November.

Within the General Assembly, said County Attorney Tyler Southall, "there's a desire to get this on the books as soon as possible."

The constitutional amendment that voters ratified Nov. 8 permitted the General Assembly to allow jurisdictions to exempt from real estate taxes the surviving spouses of any law enforcement officer, firefighter, search and rescue personnel or emergency medical services personnel killed in the line of duty.

About 80 percent of voters across the commonwealth supported the amendment. In response, the General Assembly during its last session passed legislation setting up the necessary framework for localities to make such exemptions.

With the state's work done, Dinwiddie has begun drafting its own ordinance to establish such exemptions. The Board of Supervisors is expected to review the draft at their May 2 work session.

Under the state framework, surviving spouses are permitted to receive the exemption even if the deceased spouse died before the law goes into effect July 1. The exemption will also remain in place even if the surviving spouse moves to a different place of residence, but it will cease if he or she remarries.

Because of the small number of individuals within the county who would be eligible for the exemption, Southall said that the fiscal impact of the ordinance, if passed, would be "limited."

The Board of Supervisors agreed at their April 18 meeting to schedule a public hearing on the issue for their May 16 meeting.

--Sarah Vogelsong may be reached at svogelsong@progress-index.com or 804-722-5154.

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