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1. How do I appeal the assessed value of my property?

In Virginia there are 3 methods that your assessment can be appealed. Not fulfilling any one method would not forfeit your ability to use the other methods available to you. View the 3 methods on the City Assessor's page.

2. Who may appeal the assessed value?

Any person whose name appears on the assessment roll as the owner of record or the agent for that person may appeal the assessment for their property. Agents must have the property owner submit an Agent Authorization Form to appeal on behalf of the owner.

3. What is the Board of Equalization (BOE)?

The BOE are property owners in the city that have been appointed by the local Circuit Court Judge to hear assessment appeals on behalf of the court. The BOE has full authority to raise, decrease or affirm assessments as per state laws and guidelines. The BOE is not associated with the City Assessor's Office.
Board of Equalization Page

4. May I appeal my Property Taxes?

No; appeals may only be made regarding the assessed value of the property. Appeal regarding Tax Rates or amounts of increase or decrease in taxes unrelated to assessed value or equalization of assessed value cannot be considered.

5. Does an increase or decrease in my assessed value mean that I will pay more or less taxes?

Not necessarily; assessments are not done for the purpose of raising revenue for the city. The purpose of the assessment is to equalize values and determine market value of real estate. Virginia law requires that property be assessed at market value and that similar types of property be assessed equally. Virginia law also requires that after the assessment the tax rate must be adjusted to a neutral tax rate. If further revenue is need by the city to balance the city’s operating budget it must hold public hearings to adjust the tax rate. Therefore, the adjusted tax rate is what triggers the amount of taxes you will pay.

6. What is the deadline for filing an appeal?

Appeal deadlines to the Board of Equalization and Administrative Appeals to the Assessor are posted on the Assessment Notices mailed to the property owner. These dates are also posted on the city’s website. Appeals to the Circuit Court must be made within 3 years of the last day of the tax year for which the assessment was made.

Please keep in mind that the Assessor is always willing to discuss how your property was assessed and review with you any data on file regarding your property that was used in the valuation. However, after the Administrative Hearing with the Assessor is complete the Assessor cannot change the value for any reason other than clerical errors.

7. Where can I get appeal forms?

Appeal Forms can be downloaded from links on the Assessor’s page. All forms on this site are in PDF format and may be downloaded and completed on your computer or downloaded and printed. All forms require the signature of the property owner. Forms must be returned to the Assessor’s Office by the deadline for such appeal. If you are mailing the forms, please mail early enough so that the forms reach our office prior to the deadline. Any forms received after the deadline will not be considered. City Assessor Page

8. What is the purpose of the Appeal Forms and why is there a deadline?

The purpose of the form is so that the Assessor (Administrative Appeal) and/or the BOE (BOE
Appeal) know the basis of the appeal prior to the meeting or hearing. Hearings are limited in
time, so having the basis of the appeal prior to the hearing allows the Assessor or BOE to
be better prepared which keeps the hearing process on time.

The Administrative Appeal process and BOE Appeal timing process are dictated by state
code. The Assessor must complete his hearing within a certain time frame, so that property
owners wishing to appeal further to the BOE have sufficient time to do so. The BOE is also
constrained by a deadline to compete its finding prior to the printing of the locality’s Land
Book.

9. What kind of evidence should I provide for my appeal?

The assessed value is the Assessor’s estimate of the price that the typical buyer would pay for your property as of July 1 of the assessment year that the assessment is made. Therefore you should provide any pictures, sales comparisons, recent appraisals for the property and any other data or information that you think forms the basis for your appeal. This evidence should be provided with the Application Form prior to the deadline. In an appeal to the BOE, 5 copies of all evidence to be used during your appeal must be provided with the submission of your Application Form prior to the deadline.

10. What happens after I file my appeal?

Learn what happens following your appeal filing on the City Assessor's page.

11. How are the hearings conducted?

Learn how appeal hearings are conducted on the City Assessor's page.

12. What if I am not satisfied with the Board of Equalizations decision?

The appellant or the Assessor may appeal a final determination of the Board of Equalization to the Circuit Court within 3 years of the last day of the tax year for which the assessment was made. Please contact the Clerk of Court or an attorney for further clarification and advice.

13. Should I wait until after my appeal hearing to pay my taxes?

The Administrative Appeal process and Board of Equalization Appeal process will have been completed and all decisions will have been made prior to any tax bills regarding the assessed value are due. As a result this is not an issue. However, in the event that you decide to appeal the assessment to the Circuit Court it is likely your appeal will not be held prior to the taxes for that assessment coming due. As a result, it is recommended that the taxes be paid in the usual manner. The Treasurer for the City will abate any taxes paid as a result of the court’s decision. The Treasurer may attach delinquency fees for late taxes.

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1. What is the EZ Pay Program?

The EZ Pay program allows Poquoson residents the ease and convenience of preauthorized auto draft payments. Payments are automatically deducted on the due date for utilities and monthly for taxes. They are deducted from your account as noted on the authorization form. Never worry again about missing a due date.

2. How does it work?

Upon completion of the form, the City sets up your information with your financial institution. Your financial institution will withdraw the predetermined amount as you have directed and forward it to the City.

3. When will the account be debited?

Monthly tax payments are submitted to the bank to draft on the 5th of the month. If the 5th falls on a holiday or weekend, they will be drafted on the first business day following the weekend or holiday. Utility payments are typically drafted on the 1st day of the month following the due date (i.e. if the due date is January 31, they will be drafted on February 1). Again, allow an extra day or 2 if the due date falls on a holiday or weekend.

4. How long will it take to get started once the form is turned in?

The form needs to be turned in 1 week before the due date for the utility program and by the first of the month for the monthly tax program.

5. What if I move from the area and I need to stop the authorization?

Just let us know as soon as possible. If you let us know a week before our scheduled draft, that is usually sufficient.

6. Will I still receive a tax or utility bill?

Yes. You will receive a utility bill with a notation we will draft your account. You will also still receive a personal property bill if there is a balance due. And the bill will reflect the most recent payments with any balance due.

7. Must my monthly payments be estimated by the City of may I select a monthly payment figure?

The choice is yours. We can help you plan a monthly amount to cover your bills or you may select an amount that is comfortable for you to pay each month. Either way, you stand to benefit by budgeting your annual tax bill on a monthly basis.

8. If my monthly deductions do not pay my semi-annual tax bill in full, am I responsible for the difference?

Yes, you are still responsible for any amount owing on your tax bill. Penalties will apply if your monthly payments are not enough to pay the full bill.

9. How much does it cost to sign up?

There is no charge. In fact, you should save by not paying for checks and you will save the postage or gasoline cost if you currently mail or bring in your payments.

10. What if I do not have sufficient funds in my account to allow for a debit from my bank account?

The City will treat this as a check returned due to insufficient funds. A $20 return item fee will be charged in addition to any fees your bank may charge. After two returned debits, you will be removed from the EZ Pay program.

11. What if I move my account from one financial institution to another?

Contact the Treasurer's Office in writing or in person before the next draft to ensure we present the draft to the correct bank.

12. Since the City operates on a fiscal year of July to June, when is the best time to sign up for EZ pay?

You can sign up for Utility or Tax EZ pay at any time. However, the more months you are in the tax program, the better opportunity you have to spread your payments out.

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1. Where do I find information on employment opportunities?

All open City positions are listed on the website at http://www.poquoson-va.gov/Jobs.aspx

2. How do I apply to serve on a board or commission?

If you are an American Citizen, registered to vote in the City of Poquoson, VA and would like to serve on one of the following boards/commissions listed, please submit a Board Bank Application.

Board Bank Application (Electronic Form Submittal)  

Board Bank Application (PDF) Submit to the City Manager’s Office at 500 City Hall Avenue, Poquoson, VA 23662. 

You also may submit your resume with cover letter requesting consideration for a specific board(s)/commission(s) and submit as previously mentioned.

3. When are my garbage & recycling pickup days?

For the days of your pickup, call 757-868-3598.

4. How do I signup for Code Red alerts?

Go to https://public.coderedweb.com/cne/en-US/62E90ED69C21 and complete the online registration form to receive updates.

Code Red

5. How can one report a debris and/or weed violation?

You may contact the Public Works Department at (757) 868-3590.

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1. What is revenue recovery and why did the City of Poquoson implement this program?

Revenue recovery is the process of obtaining financial reimbursement for the cost of providing medically necessary ambulance services. Medicaid, Medicare, and the majority of other private insurance policies (health, auto, and/or homeowners) allow for reimbursement for this service. As the need for additional emergency responders increases, local governments have sought ways to pay for these services without raising property taxes. Many other local governments in Virginia have found that billing Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance for ambulance transport service has resulted in a large amount of revenue being recovered to help defray the cost of the service. The availability of such revenues led the City of Poquoson to join the more than 40 cities, counties and towns in Virginia which currently have such a system.

2. What are the charges for emergency medical services?

Charges include:

Refusal - $375.00

BLS
- $450.00

ALS1 - $550.00

ALS2 - $775.00 

Mileage - $12.00 per mile

Oxygen - $50.00

3. Who do I call if I have a question regarding billing or insurance coverage?

Our new billing company, EMS Management & Consultants, Inc. has customer service representatives to address your questions at 800-814-5339. If you are not satisfied with this response or wish to speak with someone locally, you can contact Poquoson Fire Administration at 757-868-3510 or email questions to Emily Bond.

4. What happens if I do not have insurance or cannot afford to pay for this service ?

City residents who do not have any insurance and qualify for compassionate billing can submit a waiver, and fees will be waived.

5. What if my insurance company will not cover my ambulance transport bill?

In accordance with the Compassionate Billing Policy, the City's billing service will attempt to gain all information required to show the medical necessity of the transport. However, if the claim is ultimately rejected, the Department will consider the charge noncollectable for City residents. If this occurs with a non-city resident, it is the intent of the City to bill for those services to seek reimbursement. Again, residents and non-residents if qualified, may apply for the waiver.

6. If a resident has reached an insurance limit for the year and additional services are required, will the citizen receive a bill for these additional services, or can the fee be waived?

Several billing vendors advised that this should not occur, as most if not all policies do not have a limit on emergency transports related to EMS service. If this does occur, pursuant to Poquoson's Compassionate Billing Policy, the additional fees would be waived.

7. Can the billing company be directed not to send uncollected debts to a collection agency?

Poquoson's billing company will not pursue payment recovery through a debt collection agency without the expressed authorization of the City Manager or his designee.

8. Has this issue been resolved so the City will waive out-of-pocket expenses related to revenue recovery if they meet the criteria?

There has been discussion among staff regarding an Office of Inspector General (OIG) opinion that surfaced last year. This opinion relates to the jurisdiction being able to use any taxes (real or personal property) to qualify as the co-pay for City residents. The City is utilizing the OIG opinion for its residents, so the out-of-pocket expense for the co-pay will be waived for City residents.

9. Some residents have expressed concern that some people will hesitate in calling for assistance from the EMS crews when they have an emergency.

Ability to pay will NEVER be considered when providing service. Under the Compassionate Billing Policy, no one will suffer financial hardship as a result of necessary emergency medical services. When residents need emergency assistance, they should call 911 without hesitation. Most localities contacted, stated that call volume actually increased in some areas.

10. Will I have to pay for services if the ambulance does not transport me?

If you or your family members are assessed/evaluated and not transported, a refusal fee of $375 applies.  This fee is often covered by insurance and is also eligible for waiver under the Compassionate Billing Policy.

11. How does the City spend the funds that are generated by this program?

Funds recovered from insurance companies in this third-party billing program are intended to be put back into the City’s General Fund.

12. Have donations to the volunteer agencies decreased?

Some localities initially noticed a slight decrease in donations; however, within a couple of years the donations returned to pre-revenue recovery levels. Poquoson City Council has indicated that if the volunteer organizations have a reduction in donations, an appropriation would be considered to make up the deficit.

13. If I do not have health insurance, are there other options that could be utilized to collect any fees that might be charged?

Several billing companies have indicated that many automobile insurance policies and homeowners' insurance policies provide some form of coverage if the insured was injured and required transport by ambulance. Billing companies routinely bill health insurance first, then auto, and lastly any other form of insurance.

14. How does the billing process work?

The City of Poquoson contracts with a private company to handle the billing process. After patient care is provided, insurance information will be obtained routinely, often at the hospital. The City of Poquoson will waive co-payments and deductibles for City residents. Non-insured residents will receive an initial statement from the billing company, while insured residents will receive an explanation of benefits (EOB) from their insurance company. Non-insured residents may apply for the hardship waiver. Please refer to the Compassionate Billing Policy (PDF).

15. Will visitors and non-City residents be charged a co-payment?

Yes, only City residents will have their co-payments and deductibles waived.

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1. Who can register to vote in Virginia?

To register to vote in Virginia, one must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a citizen of the United States.
- Must live in the state of Virginia.
- Must be 18 years old by the date of the next general election.
- Must not have been convicted of a felony or judged by a court to be mentally incompetent, unless the right to vote has been restored by the Governor or a court order has re-established competence.
- Must not claim the right to vote elsewhere.

2. How do I register?

Individuals can apply for voter registration or update their voter registration data at any Registrar’s Office in Virginia, Department of Motor Vehicles, Public Libraries or by mail.

Voter Registration Page

3. How can I register if I cannot leave home because I’m physically disabled or have a continuing illness?

Call, email, fax or write your voter registrar. The registrar will send you an application to complete and return by mail.

Voter Registration Page

4. How will I know where to vote?

After you have registered to vote, a voter I.D. card will be mailed with the name and address of your voting precinct.

5. Can I vote absentee?

• Starting 45 days before Election Day, visit the Registrar’s office to vote early. Remember, the Saturday before Election Day is the last day to vote early.
• You do not have to have a reason or fill out an application to vote early.

6. What are the deadlines for No Excuse Absentee voting?

No Excuse Absentee voting begins approximately 45 days before an election. No Excuse Absentee voting ends at 5 p.m. on the Saturday before an election.