Poquoson, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

Below you will find information that might help you understand how to find things or learn about information you might need to know about your city or town.

General

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

    General
  • For the days of your pickup, call 757-868-3598.
    General
  • Go to https://public.coderedweb.com/cne/en-US/62E90ED69C21 and complete the online registration form to receive updates.

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

Appealing Assessments

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  • 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
    Appealing Assessments
  • 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.
    Appealing Assessments
  • 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.
    Appealing Assessments
  • 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.
    Appealing Assessments
  • 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.
    Appealing Assessments
  • 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.
    Appealing Assessments
  • 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.
    Appealing Assessments
  • 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.
    Appealing Assessments
  • 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.
    Appealing Assessments
  • Learn what happens following your appeal filing on the
    Appealing Assessments
  • Learn how appeal hearings are conducted on the
    Appealing Assessments
  • 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.
    Appealing Assessments
  • 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.
    Appealing Assessments

Revenue Recovery Program

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  • 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.

    Revenue Recovery Program
  • Charges include:

    Refusal - $375.00

    BLS- $675.29

    ALS1 - $801.92

    ALS2 - $1160.67 

    Mileage - $13.73 per mile

    Oxygen - $50.00

    Revenue Recovery Program
  • 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 Norwood.

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

    Revenue Recovery Program
  • 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.

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

    Revenue Recovery Program
  • 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.
    Revenue Recovery Program
  • 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.
    Revenue Recovery Program
  • 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
    Revenue Recovery Program
  • Yes, only City residents will have their co-payments and deductibles waived.
    Revenue Recovery Program

EZ Pay

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  • 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.
    EZ Pay
  • 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.
    EZ Pay
  • 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.
    EZ Pay
  • 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.
    EZ Pay
  • Just let us know as soon as possible. If you let us know a week before our scheduled draft, that is usually sufficient.
    EZ Pay
  • 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.
    EZ Pay
  • 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.
    EZ Pay
  • 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.
    EZ Pay
  • 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.
    EZ Pay
  • 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.
    EZ Pay
  • Contact the Treasurer's Office in writing or in person before the next draft to ensure we present the draft to the correct bank.
    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.
    EZ Pay

Voter Registration

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

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

    Voter Registration
    • 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.
    Voter Registration
  • 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.

    Voter Registration
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