Jo Anne Harris, Republican
Candidate for Commissioner of Revenue
Personal:
Born and raised in Gloucester, widowed in 2020 after 42 years of marriage. Ms. Harris and both her sons are graduates of Gloucester High School - her grandson is a current student.
She is active in her church in a variety of missions that involve preparing food for people: the sick, the shut-in, the grieving, and those in need.
Education: Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at University of Virginia:
Work:
1993-Present Commissioner of the Revenues Office
Achievements:
Born and raised in Gloucester, widowed in 2020 after 42 years of marriage. Ms. Harris and both her sons are graduates of Gloucester High School - her grandson is a current student.
She is active in her church in a variety of missions that involve preparing food for people: the sick, the shut-in, the grieving, and those in need.
Education: Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at University of Virginia:
- Master Deputy Commissioner of the Revenue 2012.
- Master Commissioner of the Revenue 2020
Work:
1993-Present Commissioner of the Revenues Office
- 1993-2004 General Clerk and in all areas of the office: real estate, state tax, personal property assessing, business license and work with the elderly & disabled tax relief program.
- 2004 - 2019 Real Estate Technician III: in the real estate department, managing all real estate transactions, the land use program, elderly & disabled program, and the disabled veterans program.
- Elected Commissioner in 2019, served beginning January 1, 2020
Achievements:
- 30 Years of Experience in the Commissioner of Revenue’s office
- Worked in Conjunction W/Board of Supervisors to pass Disabled Veterans Personal Property Tax Exemption in 2021
- Worked in Conjunction W/Board of Supervisors and County Administrator to have Tangible Personal Property Rate lowered due to high values of vehicles in 2022.
- Requested that Elderly & Disabled Veterans Income levels be raised so more low-income citizens would be able to qualify for tax relief in 2022.
- Worked in conjunction with the Treasurer in November of 2022 to request County Ordinance change so business tax payments would not be required for the Business to be able to renew their business license.
- Made online payments for Business License available to Citizens.
- Worked in Conjunction W/Board of Supervisors and County Administrator to pass the exemption for Fire & Rescue volunteers that will go into effect 1/1/2024.
- Enabled three members of the office to achieve the Master Deputy Commissioner of the Revenue accreditation awarded by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at University of Virginia.
- Facilitated staff attendance at workshops and courses offered through the Commissioner of the Revenue Association, and the Virginia Department of taxation.
- Member of the Commissioner of the Revenue Association, Virginia Association of Local Elected Constitutional Officers and serves as Secretary of the Hampton Roads Commissioner of Revenue Association of Virginia.