Supervisors oppose Senate bill that would eliminate proffer system

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The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors reached consensus today to oppose Senate Bill 768 which, if passed by the General Assembly, would eliminate Virginia's cash proffer system in favor of impact fees with a capped rate. Supervisor Sally Thomas (Samuel Miller) raised the issue for the Board's consideration under other business matters. Thomas said the bill has bi-partisan support and is currently under review by the Senate Finance Committee.

Chairman Ken Boyd (Rivanna) indicated that he had already been making personal calls in opposition to the bill. Supervisor Dennis Rooker (Jack Jouett) told his colleagues he was already on record as opposed to the bill and that he had also written a personal letter to legislators.  He shared with the Board that, if this law had been in effect at the time the Biscuit Run rezoning was approved, the County would have received $25 million less in proffers. He said the total proffers from Biscuit Run were valued at about $41 million.

"It is a devastating bill, I think, to localities, that are higher growth localities, that are having to build infrastructure to keep up with growth issues," said Rooker.  "I think the developers see the downturn in the economy as an opportunity to get something done they have been trying to get done for a long time. That is to limit severely the amount they have to contribute to pay for growth where it occurs."

Supervisor Ann Mallek (White Hall) said she would be in Richmond tomorrow and volunteered to add this to the list of issues she would discuss with members of the General Assembly.

The public can read the bill and post comments at the Richmond Sunlight website.

Brian Wheeler