A panel of Virginia Supreme Court justices listened to arguments Wednesday, but did not rule on whether the full court will hear a case involving the tax status of The Glebe, a Botetourt County retirement community, according to Frank Friedman, an attorney for the county.

The Glebe -- with Virginia Baptist Homes as its parent company -- has appealed a lower court ruling that stripped the facility of its tax-exempt status as a religious and benevolent organization. The circuit court ruling would allow the county to collect nearly $500,000 in unpaid taxes dating to The Glebe's opening in 2005, said County Administrator Jerry Burgess.

In the circuit court case, the county argued that The Glebe caters to wealthy retirees and doesn't provide charitable or religious services to its residents. The county has hired Friedman, a private Roanoke lawyer who has Supreme Court litigation experience, to handle its case in front of the high court.

Randall Robinson, president of Virginia Baptist Homes, said Tuesday that lawyers representing The Glebe's case would argue that a religious and benevolent tax exemption it has held for more than 30 years applies to all of its properties, including startups such as The Glebe that someday will offer reduced rates. And that is what those lawyers argued Wednesday, Friedman said.

The Supreme Court panel is expected to release a statement soon on whether the full court will hear the appeal.

-- Jay Conley