                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

LEVY OF TAX OR SERVICE CHARGE; WHEN DISTRICT IN TWO OR MORE COUNTIES OR CITIES;
LANDBOOKS CERTIFIED TO TREASURERS (§ 10.1-626)

A. On or before March 1 of each year, the trustees of the watershed improvement
district shall make an estimate of the amount of money they deem necessary to be
raised for the year in such district (i) for operating expenses and interest
payments and (ii) for amortization of debt, and, after approval by the directors
of the soil and water conservation district or districts, and the Virginia Soil
and Water Conservation Board, shall establish the tax rate or service charge
rate necessary to raise such amount of money. The tax rate or service charge
rate to be applied against the amount determined under subsection C or D of this
section shall be determined before the date fixed by law for the determination
of the general levy by the governing body of the counties or cities in which the
district is situated.

B. The trustees of a watershed improvement district which imposes a tax on real
estate or a service charge based on the increase in the fair market value of
real estate caused by the district&#8217;s project shall make up a landbook of
all properties subject to the watershed improvement district tax or service
charge on forms similar to those used by the county or city affected.
			A separate landbook shall be made for each county or city if the district is
located in more than one county or city. The landbook or landbooks of all
properties subject to the district tax or the service charge, along with the tax
rate or service charge rate fixed by the governing body of the district for that
year, shall be certified to the appropriate county or city treasurer or
treasurers, and filed in the clerk&#8217;s office of such locality or
localities, by the governing body of the watershed improvement district on or
before the day the county or city landbook is required to be so certified. Such
landbook or landbooks shall be subject to the same retention requirements as the
county or city landbook.

C. For tax purposes under this article, the assessed valuation of all real
estate located in a watershed improvement district shall be the same fair market
valuation that appears in the most recent landbook for the county, city, or town
wherein the subject property is located. However, in a watershed improvement
district which is located in two or more counties or cities and in which there
is a disparity of assessed valuations between the counties or cities, the
governing body of the watershed improvement district may petition the judge or
judges of the circuit courts in which the district is located to appoint one or
more persons to assess all of the real estate in the district. The compensation
of such person or persons shall be prescribed by the governing body of the
district and paid out of the funds of the district.

D. In districts authorized to impose a service charge, the service charge shall
be based on the initial increase in fair market value resulting from a project.
In order to determine the initial increase in fair market value, the trustees
shall subtract the fair market value of each parcel without the project, as
shown in the landbook for the year immediately preceding the year in which the
project was begun from the fair market value of the parcel following completion
of the project. The fair market value of each parcel with the project shall be
determined by the district directors in a reasonable manner. The values so
determined shall be the values against which the service charge rate is imposed
so long as any bonds remain outstanding, and thereafter unless a change is
approved by the district directors. If an additional improvement is made while
any bonds are outstanding, the district directors may cause a new increase in
fair market values to be computed to reflect such improvement. However, while
any bonds are outstanding, such newly computed values shall not be used unless
the total new increase in fair market values in the district is equal to or
greater than the previously determined increase in fair market values. Within
thirty days after determining the increase in fair market value for all real
estate in the watershed improvement district resulting from the project, the
trustees shall mail a notice of such determination to the owner of record of
each parcel in the district.

E. The assessments and determinations of increase in fair market value made
under the provisions of this section may be used only for the watershed
improvement district tax or service charge and shall in no way affect any county
or city assessment or levies.

F. Any person, firm, or corporation aggrieved by any determination of increased
value made under any provision of this article shall apply in writing to the
trustees of the watershed improvement district within sixty days after the
mailing of the notice required in subsection D of this section. Such application
shall specify the increased value in the opinion of the applicant and the basis
for such opinion. The trustees shall rule on all such applications within 120
days after mailing the notice required in subsection D of this section. If any
applicant remains aggrieved by the determination of increased value after such a
ruling, he may apply to the circuit court of the county or city wherein the land
is situated for a correction of such determination of increased value, within
the time limits and following the procedures set out in Article 5 (&#xA7;
58.1-3980 et seq.) of Chapter 39 of Title 58.1.

G. The provisions of this section shall not be used to change the method of real
estate assessment in any watershed improvement district established prior to
January 1, 1976.

HISTORY: 1981, c. 156, § 21-112.12:1; 1988, c. 891.