Editor, Gazette-Journal:

For the past several weeks I have carefully watched the electronic meetings of the board of supervisors, discussed with several current and former supervisors, neighbors and friends regarding the 2020 levies on taxpayers in June and December and the FY 2021 budget.

The BOS has struggled to find means to ease the financial burdens on taxpayer residents who have been devastated by business shutdowns ordered by the state, job losses, illness and other difficulties caused by the pandemic. While attempts have been made to reduce the budget for next fiscal year, nothing has been done to ease the burden of impending real estate and personal property taxes.

This year, federal and state tax payment deadlines have been extended. Unfortunately, the BOS seems to have overlooked the impact of making these payments at virtually the same time the county is demanding payment of real and personal property taxes. The imposition of the personal property tax falls especially hard on small business owners whose businesses have been ordered closed.

To put a human face on this I want to illustrate the predicament of the Courthouse Restaurant. Owners Doug and Kim Hibbs have given much to this county and sought nothing in return, providing free Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and holding community fundraisers. The restaurant was not set up for curbside delivery and could not utilize this option. Therefore, not only was income cut off but their means of paying real and personal property taxes have been expended simply to live. They are not alone.

Based on past delinquency rates in Gloucester over the last five years, I believe the delinquency rates may approach 40 percent this year as people simply struggle to exist. This may not impress the County Administrator whose six-figure salary continues to shield him from difficulties but it has a real impact on a county whose per capita income is in the region of $33,000 annually. The County Administrator has stated that he believes business will be back to normal by November. If you believe this I bet you believe in the tooth fairy.

The County Administrator has suggested that real estate and personal property tax payment dates be extended until Aug. 15. If citizens do not have the money in June is it likely they will have it two months later? Former supervisor John Meyer presented a proposal at the board’s budget hearing last week that would have provided a tax holiday for personal property tax payments in June. Meyer demonstrated the monies currently in the county treasury designated as “unassigned fund balance” would be more than adequate to cover this holiday.

Meyer’s plan is a start; however, for real relief the real estate tax must also be placed on holiday. The County Administrator objected, stating this would be irresponsible because the county “might” not have sufficient funds in November and this would be a crisis.

We are in a crisis now and the people who need help need it now. If we do not provide this help now there may be nothing to provide for in November.

Lawrence G. Cohen

Gloucester, Va.