CHAPTER 562

AN ACT to amend the Code of 1950 by udding two sections num-
bered 58-774.1 and 58-774.2, which sections relate to the review
of erroneous assessments of mineral lands and to the appraisal
of mineral lands by the Department of Taxation; to repeal
§58-775 of the Code of 1950 on the same subject; and to make
an appropriation to the Department of Taxation to enable it
to perform certain duties with respect to the appraisal of min-
eral lands.

[S 214]
Approved April 8, 1950

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of 1950 be amended by adding thereto two
sections numbered 58-774.1 and 58-774.2, as follows:

§ 58-774.1. Review of such assessments.—Any person, firm or
corporation aggrieved by any assessment made under any provision
of the preceding section may apply to the circuit court of the county
or the corporation court of the city wherein the land is situated for
a correction within the time applications for the correction of
erroneous assessments of real estate generally may be filed, and the
proceedings on each such application shall be the same as on appli-
cations for the correction of erroneous assessments of real estate
generally as provided by Chapter 22 of Title 58 of the Code of
Virginia, with like right of appeal.

§ 58-774.2. Appraisal of mineral lands by Department of
Taxation; procedure.—

(a) In any year in which a general reassessment of real estate
in any county or city is to be made, or in any year in which a
veneral reassessment of rea] estate in any county would be made
under the requirements of law except for the fact that all its real
state is classified as mineral lands, the Department of Taxation
hall make an appraisal of the mineral lands and improvements
hereon in such county or city if the Department does not have
vailable to it sufficient information to determine accurately the
alues of such mineral lands and improvements. After completing
he appraisal, the Department of Taxation shall make the same
vailable to the governing body of the county or city for such use
s the governing body deems proper.
: (b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section,
the values thus arrived at by the Department of Taxation shall be
used along with the estimated true values of other locally taxable
property, the levy projected and any factors pertinent, as _ basic
data for the purpose of determining eligibility of the county or city
to share in any State equalization tund.

(c) After the completion of such appraisal in any county or
city, such county or city may inform the Department of Taxation
as to any incorrect valuations therein. The Department of Taxa-
tion, in consultation with such governing body or some person
designated by either or both, shall have authority to adjust to a
proper figure the values shown in the original appraisal. If the
Department and the governing body cannot agree as to the values
shown in the original appraisal the data shall be submitted to three
persons selected as follows: one appointed by the Commissioner of
the Department of Taxation, one appointed by the governing body
and one appointed by the Governor. The decision of the three
persons so selected as to such values shall be final. The adjusted
values thus arrived at shall be used for the purposes specified in the
preceding paragraph.

2. § 58-775 of the Code of Virginia is repealed.

3. For the purpose of enabling the Department of Taxation to
discharge the duties imposed upon it by this act during the next
ensuing biennium, there is hereby appropriated to the Department
of Taxation, out of the general funds of the State treasury, for each
year of the biennium beginning July first, nineteen hundred and
fifty, the sum of ten thousand dollars.

4. These amendments and repeals shall not apply to the appraisal
of mineral lands prior to the year nineteen hundred and fifty-one.