Charlottesville voters in 2025 will elect the City’s Commissioner of the Revenue, a constitutional officer and the city’s chief tax-assessing official. This elected position administers and assesses critical local taxes — including real estate, personal property, meals and lodging, business licenses, and Virginia income tax — carrying out policies set by City Council and ensuring fair valuation for taxation purposes. This is a key role because tax revenues fund essential city services — such as schools, public safety, parks, and infrastructure — and the Commissioner also oversees tax relief programs that ease burdens on vulnerable residents. Choosing who holds this office is therefore vital for maintaining both revenue fairness and the city’s financial health.
Campaign Phone
434-970-3165
Locality Name
Charlottesville
Biography
Wife: Annie; Sons: Mason and Nolan. Dyed in the wool Wahoo! I grew up in Martinsville, Virginia, and I have a twin sister who lives in Arlington with her husband and two children.
I have twelve years on the job providing the citizens of Charlottesville with fair and uniform tax assessments. We consistently deliver outstanding customer service experiences to our taxpayers and to those citizens applying for tax relief through our office.
Several years ago, I received my Master Commissioner of the Revenue designation through the professional development program of the Commissioners of the Revenue Association of Virginia (CORVA). Our office has been accredited by that organization annually ever since it began offering accreditation.
I have served CORVA in a number of different capacities over the years, including as an instructor for several different classes offered to Commissioners and Deputies. Those classes Taxation of Personal property I & II, Tax Exemptions in Virginia, Auditing Business, and Conflict Resolution.
I will assume the Presidency of CORVA in the fall of 2026.
During my time in office, I have demonstrated experience working across departments, with various City Managers, and with Council. My service has produced consistent results for the citizens of Charlottesville.
We strictly adhere to the requirements of the Code of Virginia and the Charlottesville City Code as they relate to tax assessments, particularly Title 46.2 of the Code of Virginia with respect to motor vehicles, and §58.1, Chapter 30 et seq with respect to local taxes. We maintain all proper controls over taxpayer information. And though we at times work closely with other departments and the City Manager’s Office, we strive to maintain the independence required by the State Constitution of a successful Constitutional Office.
All of our policies are readily available online or in the office for anyone to inspect, and are up to the standards of the Commissioners of the Revenue Association of Virginia such that we have received accreditation from that organization.
We work closely with the Treasurer’s Office and the Office of Communications to advertise all tax changes or changes to relief programs that have been implemented by City Council. We engage through the City’s various media platforms including press releases, social media, and the City’s streaming outlets (Channel 10 and Comcast channel 13, CPA-TV). I also routinely appear on various local news outlets (print, tv, and radio) to discuss programs or tax law changes. Finally, we have a print and mail budget that we use to directly communicate with citizens.
During my tenure, we have already made great strides toward modernizing and enhancing our service delivery. Examples include:
- In collaboration with the Treasurer’s Office, we upgraded our tax software during my very first term in office.
- A number of years ago, we implemented on online business tax portal so that business taxpayers could file and pay their taxes without paper.
- In 2026, for the first time, all business license renewals and business tangible personal property filings will be conducted online.
- We have implemented online filing for all THREE of the tax relief programs that run through my office, while still maintaining in-person service for those who need it.
- I convinced Council to adopt a triennial application cycle for the elderly and disabled tax relief program so that applicants need not apply every single year. This has made life easier for the program recipients and made processing more efficient for my office.
- We have moved many of our tax forms online so that taxpayers no longer need to contact us in order to make filings.
We constantly strive for technological enhancements and look for areas to increase efficiency in order to better serve our taxpayers.
