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It’s not readily apparent from the ballot language, but the constitutional amendment Virginians will vote on Nov. 4 gives localities an out.

The measure, sponsored by Del. David I. Ramadan, R-Loudoun, is meant to exempt ﻿ from local taxes the property of the surviving spouse of a member of the U.S. military who was killed in action.

The ballot question asks: “Shall Section 6-A of Article X (Taxation and Finance) of the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to exempt from taxation the real property of the surviving spouse of any member of the armed forces of the United States who was killed in action, where the surviving spouse occupies the real property as his or her principal place of residence and has not remarried?”

But the fine print in the measure’s implementation language says the General Assembly “may” exempt the property from the taxation. In other words, localities may choose not to comply.

“There was a small concern by some of the municipalities and localities that had a large number of military families” that “prompted a couple members of the Senate to adjust the application language slightly to make it permissible for those counties to opt out,” Ramadan said.