In addition to voting for Comstock and Stewart this Tuesday, there are two Constitutional Amendments on the ballot and I will be voting “No” on question 1, and “Yes” on question 2. Here’s why:
QUESTION 1: Should a county, city, or town be authorized to provide a partial tax exemption for real property that is subject to recurrent flooding, if resiliency improvements have been made on the property?
RECOMMENDATION: VOTE NO
Reasons: This measure encourages building in flood-prone areas. Uniform taxation of property should be preserved except for pressing reasons; otherwise, the tax code degenerates into a complex system of special interest benefits.
QUESTION 2: Shall the real property tax exemption for a primary residence that is currently provided to the surviving spouses of veterans who had a one hundred percent service-connected, permanent, and total disability be amended to allow the surviving spouse to move to a different primary residence and still claim exemption?
RECOMMENDATION: VOTE YES
Reasons: In 2010, the Virginia Constitution was amended to permit a property tax exemption for surviving spouses of such disabled veterans. This year’s amendment simply modifies the 2010 constitutional amendment to allow a widow or widower to move to a new residence without losing their tax exemption. Often, widowed spouses downsize after a husband’s or wife’s death. They should not be penalized for making this painful, but necessary, lifestyle change.
Please vote on Tuesday, November 6th. Your vote is vital to preserving our rights and freedom.
