BAYBORO – On one side is the recently concluded ‘mass appraisal’ of the county’s 17,000 parcels (which is supposed to document the much higher home values). On the other side, is a proposed tax rate for the 2026-2027 fiscal year of 52.5 cents per $100 of valuation – a whopping 9 cents higher than what is known as the ‘revenue neutral tax rate.’ This possible vice-like squeeze on Pamlico County taxpayers prompted Heath to release the following statement:
“This would certainly be a double whammy. I’m sorry that we don’t have new government buildings or the latest and greatest equipment. But people’s wallets are hurting. Families are struggling. I’m not willing to put any more on the people of Pamlico County than absolutely necessary.”
In a grueling and tedious April 15 budget preparation workshop, Heath and other insiders were surprised that County Manager Mark Brewington and County Finance Officer Alex Showalter all but ignored any discussion of the revenue neutral rate of 43.5 cents per $100 of valuation.
That rate is required to be published after all county-wide revaluations in North Carolina. It is the figure, if adopted, that would yield the same amount of tax revenue in the next fiscal year (with higher valuations) as is being generated in the current fiscal year BEFORE revaluations. In other words, NEUTRAL, and also serving to some extent as a taxpayer-held leash.
Instead Brewington and Showalter went immediately to spreadsheets that used the much higher tax rate of 52.5 cents per $100 of valuation. Heath sensed that any leap of 9 cents in the tax rate for the 2026-2027 Fiscal Year — while also being applied to a much higher tax base – will be a tough sell in the sprawling real world of Pamlico County.
“The way I operate,” vowed Heath, “is that I am scared to death to spend taxpayers’ money.”
Fast forward to Monday night’s regularly scheduled County Commission meeting where a need for more tax revenue surfaced. Elected officials confronted a chronic staffing problem at the jail. The starting salary there is less than that offered in other jurisdictions.
“At our jail,” said Pamlico County Sheriff Chris Davis, “the biggest issue over the last several months really comes down to pay.” With a goal of immediately filling the jail’s eight vacant positions, the commissioners approved an emergency allocation of $137,000.
The message? Budget deliberations are never easy! To see some of the give-and-take, the next budget meeting is set for Wednesday, May 6, at 1pm in the second floor conference room of the Bayboro Courthouse. Everyone is welcome.
Related posts:
Publisher/Editor
