Colonial Heights is not commenting on a letter written by its state delegate to Gov. Abigail Spanberger claiming that passage of a statewide collective bargaining framework could possibly drive the city’s real estate tax rate up almost 50 cents.
In an April 2 letter to the governor, Del. Mike Cherry, R-Colonial Heights, claimed the proposed Public Employee Relations Board spelled out in House Bill 1263 and Senate Bill 378 would override local government control of its payrolls and “result in a significant tax increase on Virginia families.”
Citing figures that an aide to Cherry said came directly from the local governments in Cherry’s district, Colonial Heights and Chesterfield County stood to lose a combined $212.5 million in revenue that could be made up only by raising real estate taxes…