PATHS granted property tax reduction

Piedmont Access to Health Services Inc. (PATHS) has been granted a 90-percent property tax exemption for its Main Street Center.

PATHS asked Danville City Council on Tuesday night to approve a 100-percent property tax exemption for its new building at 705 Main St.

Councilman David Luther pointed out that part of the building was rented to a for-profit business and suggested that PATHS be given a 90-percent reduction in its property tax rate.

Some members disagreed, saying that an organization that does as much for the community as PATHS should receive the full reduction, whether the whole building was being used for non-profit uses or not.

Council voted 5-4 to approve the lower tax exemption, with councilmen Wayne Oakes, Gary Miller, Adam Tomer and Larry Campbell opposing the move.

City Attorney Clarke Whitfield said council can change the ordinance to a higher or lower percentage in the future.

In other business Tuesday, council unanimously approved a new stage shell at Ballou Park, funded by the Rotary Club of Danville, and a radio communications link from Danville to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, funded by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

It also unanimously approved an IMAX-style theater at the Danville Science Museum, funded by the state and the Science Museum of Virginia; amendments to the revenue sharing agreement between Danville and Pittsylvania County related to two regional industrial parks already in place and plans for two more in the future; and a request for $1.6 million from the Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission for fiscal year 2009.

•Contact Denice Thibodeau at or (434) 791-7985.