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146 <br />useful tool to pursue. She said the study should look at who would be negatively <br />impacted. <br /> <br /> The Resolution directing staff to explore the concept of a differential tax rate was <br />approved by the following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, Mr. Caravati, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. <br />Lynch. Noes: Mr. Schilling. <br /> <br />Whereas <br />, the real estate tax is a major source of revenue for the City of <br />Charlottesville, accounting for $42,750,000 of $75,461,863, or 57.4 percent, of taxes <br />collected locally by the City; <br /> <br />Whereas <br />, over the past five years, the real estate assessment values for individual <br />homeowner properties have risen at a much faster rate than commercial and rental <br />properties, placing an increasing percentage of the local tax burden on City homeowners; <br /> <br />Whereas <br />, unlike commercial and rental real estate owners, homeowners do not <br />typically derive income from property which is their primary residence; <br /> <br />Whereas <br />, homeownership is a priority of City Council, and Council recognizes <br />that the total cost of homeownership includes the real estate taxes that are levied by the <br />City; <br /> <br />Whereas <br />, increases in assessments has a greater impact on citizens on fixed <br />incomes; <br /> <br />Whereas <br />, thirty-one states allow local governments to provide real estate <br />exemptions to homeowners; <br /> <br />Whereas <br />, the General Assembly recently passed legislation permitting the City <br />greater flexibility in expanding homeownership opportunities; <br /> <br />Whereas <br />, other tools and policies would be useful to the City in addressing the <br />burden of increasing assessments on residential homeowners; <br /> <br />Now, Therefore, be it resolved <br /> that the Council of the City of Charlottesville, <br />Virginia seeks to address the inequity in real estate taxation, and, to that end, directs City <br />staff to develop additional options for doing so, to include but not be limited to an <br />exploration of the implications of establishing a differential tax rate for residential and <br />commercial properties. The Council further directs staff to prepare a report to Council <br />detailing these options, and to discuss these options with our elected representatives for <br />possible inclusion in next year’s legislative package. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said that Saturday is Earth Day and the Earth Day Festival organizers <br />asked for a waiver of fees and use of bathrooms. He said he understands that the <br />bathroom issue has been resolved. He said they have also requested an increase in the <br />number of tables. He asked that Council grant these requests as it would be consistent <br />with Dogwood Festival waivers granted. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said there will be some direct costs. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton made a motion to grant the waiver of fees and increase the number <br />of tables for the Earth Day Festival, and Mr. Caravati seconded the motion. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling said that many organizations use the City’s facilities and pay fees, <br />and he will not support requests absent a clear policy about who pays and who we waive <br />fees for. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati suggested that the motion be amended to grant a waiver of up to <br />$500 and put this amount in next year’s budget. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he thinks Mr. Schilling raises a legitimate question, but he thinks <br />there is a difference with Earth Day as there are a significant number of City tables and it <br /> <br />