PENDER COUNTY — A tax rate was revealed at the Pender County Board of Commissioners meeting on Monday evening, though none of the elected leaders seem to support the county manager’s suggestion.
County Manager Colby Sawyer announced a $42.51-cents property tax rate per $100 value for the proposed FY26-27 budget, though it was not on the June 1 agenda. Some commissioners spoke against it briefly because it’s more than the revenue-neutral rate, $40.51 cents, they hoped to see next fiscal year.
“I will not support a 2-cent tax increase; I promise you I won’t,” Commissioner Jerry Groves said.
While the rate is technically 31 cents lower than the county’s current $73.75 cents, a 2026 property revaluation has increased property values significantly countywide. On average, a property increased 110%, though some homes had double, triple, and quadruple values. So if homeowners were charged the current rate on considerably increased home values, they could be taxed out of their residences — at least that’s been the refrain of many who have spoken against the revaluation process in the last few months.
Commissioner Jimmy Tate has opposed the 2026 revaluation numbers and attempted to suspend using them for the budget, due to what he called “inaccuracies” in the data that Vincent Valuations presented. But the move ran afoul of state law, according to the department of revenue and UNC School of Governments so the commissioners voted to reinstate 2026 values in early May.
The ad valorem property tax is the county’s greatest revenue generator and in the 2026 reappraisal cycle the county has $19.7 billion in taxable properties, inclusive of real estate, property, motor vehicles and utilities. The budget details an average home of $450,000 would have to pay around $7.50 more a month if the $42.51 cent rate passes.
“I know I’ve been told that that’s not much,” Tate told commissioners at this week’s meeting, but added going 2 cents above revenue-neutral at a time when the cost of everything is rising significantly is “an insult to taxpayers.”
“It is a lot to people who do not have the means to pay the additional 2%. I think it’s a slap in the taxpayer’s face,” he added.
The revenue-neutral rate means the county will continue to bring in the same amount of revenue as last fiscal year; it’s also mandated by law to print the revenue-neutral rate, even if it isn’t used, during a reappraisal year. Sawyer said he tacked on 2 cents more onto revenue-neutral due to increased expenses; 1 cent generates $1.94 million, according to budget documents.
“Frankly, more importantly, to account for lost revenues because the state does not have a budget, they are providing less funding for our schools and because of some additional changes to reimbursement rates in health and DSS programs, we will be receiving less for the services we provide,” Sawyer told commissioners.
However, he didn’t present the full budget to the board; it totals $236.6 million, with $137 million balanced for the general fund.
“I don’t want to get into a budget discussion right now because it’s not on the agenda,” Sawyer said, adding a public hearing is scheduled for June 15 and the residents can view it in full detail here ahead of time.
North Carolina state law requires budgets be submitted to its governing boards on or before June 1. Sawyer said he sent the budget to commissioners the afternoon of June 1; they have to vote on it by June 30.
Some of its additions include a 3% cost of living rate for all employees, a 1.25% step increase for all employees hired before July 1, 2025, and the implementation of the county’s Way Forward Initiative. This initiative will reclassify 160 positions in all county departments that address salaries below market rate.
There is also $11 million for the Pender County Sheriff’s Office budget, with 15 vehicles being replaced and the October opening of the Law Enforcement Center requiring 25 new essential positions. Commissioner Brent Springer told Port City Daily he was concerned about retention rates among deputies, correctional officers, and other law enforcement employees and its cost impact.
“I campaigned on the safety and security of citizens,” Springer said during a Tuesday phone call. “We pay billions of dollars to get these employees trained, only to turn around and leave. So we need to find out what our problems are.”
Springer said if employee retention can be addressed, less money will be spent in the long run countywide. Still, he didn’t want his constituents “paying more than the bloated government’s already paying” in the 2027 budget.
Sawyer maintains in the budget message that the rev-neutral increase is not because of county overspending — he put aside departmental enhancement requests, removed unfilled positions and consolidated responsibilities where appropriate. Instead, the 2 cents is needed due to contracted revenue streams and everyday inflation to conduct business
The largest line item in Pender’s budget is $38.8 million for Pender County Schools and $4 million put toward its capital overlay projects. $10.38 million is going to fire operations and $9.95 million to emergency medical services.
Pender County Utilities also has been budgeted for $22.6-million across system development, water, and sewer funds. It has a 13.2% increased water fee as part of a five-year phased funding approach that will support construction of the Membrane Water Treatment Plant and other planned capital.
Chair Randy Burton didn’t support the tax increase at Monday’s meeting either, having been vocal to maintain revenue-neutral. Commissioner Brad George took to social media after the meeting stating on June 2 he requested a detailed line-item budget in order to evaluate the allocation of county funds.
Groves, George, Burton and Tate did not return Port City Daily’s call for comment.
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