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June 4 Newsletter: Why is Richmond's car tax higher than the counties?

Weather: Sunny, hot and humid. High of 85.

On this date in In 1973, Petersburg's R.O. Mayes Grain Company loses several tons of grain after a dust explosion. No workers are injured, but the Petersburg Progress Index reports that one worker’s glasses were shattered.

Why is Richmond's car tax so much higher than the counties?

Tomorrow is the due date for car tax payments, and David Poole takes a look at how each locality taxes the same car.

  • Richmond has a higher tax rate, and provides less tax relief.
  • The city, along with Hanover, uses a higher car valuation than Henrico and Chesterfield.
  • Richmond charges higher registration fees.

Add it all up, and it contibutes to a higher tax burden for city residents than car owners in the suburbs. Read more here.

Discovery of 742 potential graves raises new questions about how to handle Confederate marker in Manchester

The confirmation of the mass grave could strengthen the view that the marker is more like those in Hollywood Cemetery than the ones that used to stand on Monument Avenue.

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The report also pointed to the possibility of so-called “limb pits” deeper in the site containing bodies or “portions of bodies” amputated by combat surgeons during the war.

There had been calls to take the marker down, but for the moment it will remain as-is. Read more here.

'It's been crazy': Map of Richmond's shop cats a smash hit as initial printing goes fast

A VCU student project became a viral hit last week, when the maps were claimed almost immediately after release.

The map includes the location and stats of each cat (age, level of friendliness, petting preferences, etc.), as well as an illustrated portrait. The map doubles as a passport of sorts: map holders can get their maps stamped at participating businesses to denote that they’ve visited each cat. Read more, and see the map, here.

Also today in The Richmonder

City Council approves 5-cent tax on plastic bags starting in 2026
Starting next year, grocery stores, convenience stores and pharmacies will add the charge. The city estimates that 8 million plastic bags are used annually. Revenues will be split, with the stores receiving 20% and the city the rest.

Mosby Street bus platform experiment showing few changes in driver behavior so far
The attempt to slow down traffic by placing a temporary bus platform in the street hasn’t produced many changes in driver behavior so far. A car continues to pass the bus about one out of every three times it stops.

NASCAR dreams, bespoke sandwiches: here's what you can get at this year's big RPS auction
The Richmond Ed Fund's annual auction includes a number of unique items, like baking bread with a school board member, and floating down the James River with Dominion's CEO.

In other news

The editor's desk

Greetings from Minneapolis, where I'm gathered with other nonprofit news leaders for a three-day conference to share tips, tricks and best practices. The need for quality, unbiased information about our communities has never been greater, and we're grateful for all of you who have supported The Richmonder.

Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org

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