Lunenburg County Medical Facility Seeks to Remain Tax Exempt

LUNENBURG – Southern Dominion Health System (SDHS), which operates the Lunenburg Medical Center between Victoria and Kenbridge, recently requested exemption from real estate and personal property taxes.

The Deed of Trust Note between SDHS and Lunenburg County which was in the amount of $700,000 was set to be forgiven if the facility remained in operation as a medical center for at least 20 years. Southern Dominion Health System fulfilled that obligation and was released from that payment by county officials. 

County officials during their June meeting said that the request to be tax exempt would have to fall under the same analysis used for emergency services groups in the area in order to qualify to be exempt from taxes.

In previous years, SDHS had not paid taxes in the county, but had been asked to pay it this year. According to reports, SDHS and Lunenburg had an agreement for them not to pay taxes, but no official documentation was found.

County Administrator Tracy Gee and Lunenburg Commissioner of Revenue Liz Hamlett indicated that they would research this issue further and revisit it at the July meeting.