Experience and Foresight

After 15 years experience in the Office of the Revenue, Newport News Chief Deputy Priscilla Bele, is knowledgeable, articulate, and equipped with well formulated ideas as to how to efficiently move forward as Newport News Commissioner of the Revenue. Her first bid for elected office, Bele would succeed Charles Crowson, who has held the elected office since 1994, and intends to retire in December. Bele would be the first woman to hold a constitutional office in Newport News and is a Farm Team endorsed candidate.
The Commissioner of the Revenue in Newport News is responsible for the assessment of various state and local taxes. There is a critical relationship between the private citizens and city government that needs to be managed with fairness and complete accuracy.

“We need to be certain to tax appropriately,” Bele explained. “The people of Newport News are our customers. We need to handle them and their money with respect.” She continued,”City government is our customer as well…if we’re not doing a good job assessing, then they are unable to do their job.” Bele’s office also works in partnership with the business community, handles revenue impact studies, personal property taxes, works in partnership with the DMV, processes Real Estate Tax Relief applications and many other varied and detailed tasks that deal with the Newport News financial tax base. Her office oversees the assessment of $125 million in taxes annually. “You want the steward of your money to handle it right,” she says, “particularly in these economic times. My boss has been very supportive of letting me learn the job over the years in order to take over this position.”
As Chief Deputy, Bele has been instrumental in the decision making process to determine the best new technology product available to increase efficiency and productivity throughout the Newport News department of the revenue and city government, working in partnership with the City Assessor, City Treasurer and the City Manager, within the current tough budget constraints. “ Obtaining and implementing new technology would allow us to be more effective in managing our responsibilities in assessing local and state taxes.”

Bele has in depth knowledge of the program offerings of the Office of the Revenue, and she says chief among her priorities is to communicate these benefits to the constituents in the Newport News community, so that they can take advantage of the services the office provides. She also intends to promote the educational opportunities her office offers to the business community to assist them in the specific challenges of the detailed tax preparation for this particular group. “Communication is so important and that can be very hard at times, but in order to do things right that’s what we need to focus on.”
Bele is optimistic about the upcoming campaign and talked about how much she looks forward to continuing to work within the department in which she has become such an integral part over the last 15 years. “We have wonderful staff and they know their jobs, but if you don’t have that support at the leadership level they won’t be able to get their jobs done.”

To find out more about Priscilla Bele or contribute to her campaign, please go to beleforcommissioner.com. Priscilla Bele is a Farm Team endorsed candidate.