*Tax protest held outside Shenandoah County Courthouse

Like This? Click Here to Recommend View larger image Phil Hunt of Strasburg speaks to the crowd gathered in front of the courthouse to discuss the reassessment of real estate value and local government spending in Shenandoah County. Hunt decided to have a rally about the issues after his daughter encouraged him to do something about it. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Valerie Hunt, a student at Liberty University, and Lewis McDonald of Strasburg stand in front of the courthouse during the protest. Hunt encouraged her father to organize a rally and then came from college to support him in Woodstock on Friday. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Trudy Rauch, right, and Beverly Dahlgren, both of Woodstock, protest outside the courthouse. Andrew Thayer/Daily

By Sally Voth -- svoth@nvdaily.com

WOODSTOCK -- Nearly 100 residents angry about potential tax increases descended on downtown Woodstock on Friday morning.

Strasburg resident Phil Hunt, concerned taxes might go up to pay for several county projects, organized the protest with help from his 18-year-old daughter, Valerie.

She was one of several people holding signs outside the Shenandoah County Courthouse, which generated numerous honks from passing motorists. Several people complained their latest real-state reassessments went up dramatically.

Jerry Elbon, who lives in Strasburg, stood towards the back of the crowd.

"I'm here because of these taxes," he said in a brief interview. "[My reassessment] went up 100 percent. I think they're a bunch of crooks and a bunch of thieves, or whatever you want to call them. They're not for the people of Shenandoah County. They're for themselves. They're not for business."

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