On Monday, the Roanoke City Council will receive a number of presentations regarding updates on the city’s budgeting process, city code amendments and Williamson Road revitalization.
During its afternoon session, council will consider amending the city code to codify real and personal property tax exemptions by nonprofit organizations. If adopted, organizations not automatically exempt from taxation under the Code of Virginia would be considered for exemption by a committee made up of members from the offices of the director of real estate valuation and the commissioner of revenue, the city manager and city attorney. The committee will then make a recommendation to the council, who votes on the exemption.
In Roanoke, the total value of the properties that are exempted adds up to $2.5 billion — or approximately $31.5 million in unrealized annual tax revenue — according to data from KC Bratton, the city’s director of real estate valuation.
The agenda for Monday’s meeting lists a “FY26 Proposed Budget Questions and Answers Summary” during the 2 p.m. session. No related documents were included in the agenda packet.
Also in the afternoon session, Valerie Brown, executive director of the Greater Williamson Road Area Business Association, will present a “State of the Road” report.
The association is focused on the revitalization of the roadway and the businesses that line it. In the presentation, Brown reports a police walk is planned in the coming year, as well as a walk with Roanoke County. A transportation plan is underway through partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation. She also shares information about upcoming grant funding available for business owners to upgrade their properties.
Those interested in reading the full agenda and the agenda packet can find both here. Monday’s meeting, with sessions at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., will be held in the city council chamber, fourth floor, room 450 of the Noel C. Taylor Municipal Building. The meeting will be livestreamed through Facebook, with recordings posted on the site afterwards.
