PENDER COUNTY — After newly passed legislation officially paused the 2026 property revaluations in nine counties statewide, property owners in Pender County have asked: Does that also extend the appeal period for their property’s new value?
The answer: Yes.
While Pender County commissioners originally voted for all 2026 revaluation appeals to be turned in by June 30, a spokesperson for Pender County said the tax office is in the process of determining a new deadline for next year due to Senate Bill 889 passing.
READ MORE: ‘Man that is high’: Pender property values increase 105% to 110% since last reval
ALSO: Pender County reverts tax rate decision, passes county budget with 2025 reval numbers
The bill enacts a one-year moratorium on 2026 revaluations and was signed into law by Gov. Josh Stein last week. Introduced by Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham, Guilford) and cosponsored by Sens. Brent Jackson (R-Pender, Sampson, Bladen, Duplin, and Jones) and Steve Jarvis (R-Davidson, Davie), the bill requires counties with completed revaluations effective Jan. 1, 2026, to delay using updated assessments for one fiscal year. Instead, counties will rely on older property values when setting tax bills for the 2026–27 budget cycle, with the new values taking effect in 2027.
The bill also extends the window for property owners to appeal new values through the 2027 calendar year.
“County staff is preparing something for taxpayers with more details and guidance as this process moves forward,” Brandi Cobb, communications manager for Pender County, told Port City Daily regarding the bill’s passing, but noted further details were not available currently.
She added the county has received roughly 3,000 appeals to date and worked through 40% so far. Letters are to be mailed soon letting people know if there is a change to their home’s value in this latest round of appeals.
“If the person agrees with the value, they check the box and sign the letter and send it back and if the person disagrees with the value, they check the box that says disagree and sign it, and send it back,” Cobb said. “Disagrees will be set up with a date and time to go before the Board of Equalization and Review to present their case on their value.”
Of the 3,000 appeals that have been turned in to date, Cobb said 550 have had inaccuracies. This is due to some features not being visible from the exterior of the home.
Vincent Valuations — the company hired for $2.3 million to do the revaluations — assessed 54,600 parcels countywide in 2024 and 2025 and found 91% of all properties increased in value. The company does an outside assessment of a property only, meaning someone could appeal their home as two stories, when in fact it only has cathedral ceilings.
Property values escalated between 105% to 110% on average since the county’s 2019 revaluation — though some residents complained of property values ballooning by 500%. Commissioners also have complained about “data inaccuracies” and encouraged constituents to assess their property values closely and appeal as necessary.
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