~City provides assistance with applications at various locations - New dates and location added~ The City of Richmond Department of Finance is offering personnel at various locations to offer assistance to elderly and disabled residents who may qualify or need to re-certify for real estate tax relief. “We are taking our assistance efforts straight to the community to make it easier for the elderly and disabled to complete the application process,” said Finance Director Barbara Reese. City finance staff will be available during the following times and locations to provide personal assistance with the real estate tax relief application process. No appointment is necessary. The locations and days are: o Wednesdays, February 9 and 16 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Southside Community Services Center 4100 Hull Street Road (in the Southside Plaza Shopping Center) o Wednesdays, January 26 and February 23 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. East End District Center 701 N. 25th Street

~City is only locality in State with authority to offer tax payment break~ At his monthly meeting with Richmond City Council, Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced his administration's desire to implement a tax amnesty program for Richmond city tax payers. The Jones Administration sought and won the authority to offer the amnesty program during the 2010 General Assembly and would like the relief to be offered between February 15 and April 15. This is the second time in history that the city of Richmond has been authorized to have a tax amnesty program. The first time was in 1994 and was championed by then-Delegate Dwight C. Jones. The current authority was sponsored by Delegate Jennifer McClellan at the City's request. The Jones Administration will introduce a paper at tonight’s City Council meeting to implement the authorized amnesty program. "Our first amnesty program will cover past-due real estate taxes, and it would waive any penalties to the real estate taxes owed by a p