(L to R) Councilwoman Debbie Laudermilk, Councilman Carl "Shorty" Wolfe, Mayor Jeff Irvine, and Vice-Mayor Dale Burdette

Clifton Forge Council Discuss Utility Bill Increase, Local Vandalism, Regular Business Following Public Hearing By Jennifer Bailey Staff Writer   Clifton Forge, VA (June 10, 2025)— At tonight's Clifton Forge Town Council meeting, there were several items on the docket which included a public hearing for the following items (as written in tonight's handout): A) To consider the adoption of an ordinance imposing and levying taxes within the Town of Clifton Forge, Virginia, upon real property for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June 30, 2026, and upon personal property and machinery and tools for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2025. B) To consider an adoption of an ordinance to amend Section 86-95, Water Service Charges and Fees beginning July 1, 2025, with no increase in the monthly rate per EDU of $41.80. C) To consider the adoption of an ordinance to amend Section 86-556, sewer service charges and fees beginning July 1, 2025, to increase the monthly rate per EDU to $72.20. D)To consider the adoption of a resolution adopting the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Operating Budget and Capital Budget for the Town of Clifton Forge, Virginia, and appropriating the requisite funds for said budget. Though each of these items were discussed and public comments heard, none of the aforementioned items were voted on this evening. Included in Item A is a proposed decrease in real estate tax. Currently, the amount is 26¢ per $100 of assessed value. However, the proposed decrease is set at 16.5¢ per $100 of assessed real estate value; a difference of 9.5¢ per $100. "It is in direct response to the reassessment of real estate property from Alleghany County," Town Manager Chuck Unroe said. "By code, a municipality is only allowed to increase their revenue by 1% because of a reassessment of value, an increase in value, over the total tax levied for the previous fiscal year. Our reduction in real estate tax of 9.5¢ is in direct relation to equalize our tax rate to reflect a 1% increase in tax revenue over the total amount of real estate tax levied last fiscal year." As residents may soon see a decrease in personal property tax assessments, there may also be a slight increase in the sewer bill in the future. As Town Manager Chuck Unroe pointed out this evening, Clifton Forge no longer has their own sewer plant and now relies on Alleghany County. Mayor Jeff Irvine expressed his concerns as well stating, "Our hands are tied with Alleghany County. They raised it .19 on us per thousand gallons, so we've got to raise it [sewer bill] to pay our bills. I hate doing it like everybody here probably. It has to be done. We have to pay it. I don't have to be a fan of it, but it really has to be done." Following the public hearing, the council discussed regular town business including the recent vandalism inside the bathrooms at Matthews Park which have led to nightly closures until further notice. Unroe noted that the restrooms had to be completely repainted, as well as fixtures that required replacing. Tonight's Clifton Forge Town Council meeting was livestreamed by the Journal and is available for viewing on our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/alleghanyjournal Town Manager Chuck Unroe updated the town with many new developments. His full monologue of Town Manager Comments are now available on the Alleghany Journal Facebook page. Wendy Hudler read off several items during the public hearing portion of the meeting tonight.

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