Assessors are Working Across the County

The Clarke County Board of Supervisors has selected Wampler-Eanes Appraisal Group Ltd. to perform the county’s 2024 General Reassessment of real estate values. The purpose of the reassessment is to reflect 100 percent fair market value as required by the Code of Virginia and obtain uniformity in order to assure properties of similar type and value carry similar assessments. Appraisers are personally inspecting and photographing each of the approximately 9,200 parcels in Clarke, including those in the incorporated towns of
Berryville and Boyce.

The Code of Virginia requires localities to reassess properties, both taxable and non-taxable, to establish the current fair market value. Counties typically conduct general reassessments of real estate every four to six years. Most recently, Clarke conducted reassessments in 2009, 2015, and 2019.

If overall values go up, the law requires localities to develop and publish a revenue-neutral tax rate before considering an increase. Historically, the Clarke Board of Supervisors has adopted the revenue-neutral rate. For instance, during the last reassessment in 2020, the real estate tax rate went from $0.71 to $0.615 (less than 62 cents).

Assessment fieldwork will continue through October 2024. Wampler-Eanes will send letters to owners of large farms to schedule fieldwork. If necessary, it will send letters to some property owners requesting
additional information.

Assessors will carry photo identification, wear fluorescent yellow safety vests, and their vehicles will have “County Reassessment” signs. They will knock on doors and identify themselves, and they will not go through fences.

“We want to alert the public to this, because our assessors and data collectors will visit residents’ homes and county businesses to inspect and assess all buildings, dwellings, and the overall property. The appraisal team will take exterior photographs of all major improvements and will also be updating measurements while visiting properties,” said Steven I. Wampler, president of Wampler-Eanes Appraisal Group, Ltd. “It is the assessor’s purpose to collect sufficient data to determine the fair market value of each property. Our ultimate goal is to get a good, accurate, and equitable assessment of all real estate in Clarke County,” he said.

Steven Wampler and Gary Eanes have performed 145 reassessments and have assessed more than 2.5 million properties in Virginia and North Carolina over the last 27 years.

Clarke County property owners will receive their “2024 Reassessment Notice” by November. Then, Wampler-Eanes Appraisal representatives will schedule one-on-one meetings with anyone who wishes to discuss their reassessment.

For more information, contact the Commissioner of the Revenue Donna Peake at (540) 955-5187 or mailto:dpeake@clarkecounty.gov.