A looming increase in real estate property taxes has become a campaign issue in November’s race for two open seats on the James City County board of supervisors.
Average property taxes increased by double digits last year after the 2024 assessment captured the dramatic increase in the county’s home values since Covid. To mitigate the impact, supervisors voted to provide a five-cent tax credit for the first year. No credit is proposed for the budget that starts in July.
Board Chair Jim Icenhour, who is running for re-election to his Powhatan District seat in November, told us he is going to bring up a two-cent tax credit at next week’s meeting to approve the budget.
The supervisors are scheduled to vote Tuesday on the county’s proposed $389.5 million combined operating and capital budget -- up 38% from the current $283.2 million budget.
“ I believe we will also consider other possible cuts to the budget as well,” Icenhour said.
His Republican challenger, newcomer John Slokovitz, said he wan…