[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6301462,"mediaKeyId","2488298-629e75c8419ef4417b9b08411dcd162b","parentId",2488298,"title","Burke County staff propose formal policies for business personal property audits, present‑use reviews and foreclosure thresholds","audioSeconds",1168,"startMs",3560000,"endMs",4728000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2488298-629e75c8419ef4417b9b08411dcd162b&start=3560&end=4728","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2488298-629e75c8419ef4417b9b08411dcd162b/thumbnail_3560000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6301462/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Burke-County-staff-propose-formal-policies-for-business-personal-property-audits-presentuse-reviews-and-foreclosure-thresholds","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301462-75935370716f5045cea0b2dc0a0d2489/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203439&Signature=Z3Om5kcZ3REmWL32BFijbxfI3DKlqHOCqHwnVZnWfr~NBO5qRU-N-OR43J172afTWStnkHbFegpOKPvc-UKWNMYi1nNpx1NYVTgP4gLnrugWXrAKtgCylFLraEMJzIHlSuhKDAjw7Ub59gti0sY0CcdpsCMHoMmt4H1wctuvGAnsz3W9dZQq-La228OvmuGYiSU4Dp3u-6aQ7D-Kf-9USBmXjyUDv4orZ7L0EIXQJJvpJ7~wiVllXNZS48VHOKtBFAnowY1p5S-kTCjCXzL6j0E3Gyz611G2VlkHCLgeiNWYbnPqsWDwz5pVz9FPJWwqWP1Iy0AEbkuyTIYDWSXyhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Burke County, NC","date","2025-03-04T14:39:56Z","article","Burke County tax officials presented a package of proposed policies intended to standardize business personal‑property audits, present‑use valuation reviews (agriculture/forestry/horticulture), and tax‑foreclosure thresholds.

John Bridges, the county tax administrator, and County Manager Brian Manning said the proposals aim to reduce inconsistent practice, make audits more predictable for taxpayers, and preserve equitable taxation across the county’s tax base. Bridges told commissioners the county’s total tax base is about $10.8 billion, of which roughly $8.6 billion is real property; personal property and state‑assessed accounts (utilities, etc.) make up the remainder.

Business personal property: staff proposed a materiality threshold of $50,000 assessed value and an audit cadence designed so an account exceeding that threshold would be reviewed at least once every eight years (achieved by sampling ~1/8 of accounts each year). Bridges said the process would rely on third‑party consultants for credibility and would reconcile county listing forms with business tax returns and depreciation schedules. County staff said the $50,000 figure reflects a level where the resulting tax difference is modest (roughly under $300 per year at the county rate) and is intended as a materiality filter to keep audits from being unduly burdensome.

Present‑use value reviews: staff proposed formalizing a review schedule for present‑use valuation (agriculture, horticulture and forestry) consistent with state guidance. Present‑use valuation schedules are set at the state level for North Carolina (cooperative extension/state schedules used by counties), and Bridges noted statute requires periodic review: staff recommended an eight‑year formal review cycle while continuing some local checks more frequently. Bridges said a statutory three‑year ‘‘look‑back’’ applies when a property leaves present use and that the local reviews are intended to ensure compliance with eligibility requirements.

Tax foreclosure and collections: staff proposed thresholds and an escalation ladder for collections to bring consistency to when cases go to outside counsel for foreclosure. Recommendations presented included initiating foreclosure only after an account has been delinquent for more than one year and exceeds $500 in unpaid tax, with earlier, lower‑cost remedies used for smaller amounts (wage garnishment, debt setoff, liens, negotiated payment plans). Bridges recommended an initial period of notices and attempted contact, then wage garnishment or debt set‑off steps before outside counsel foreclosure. He noted legal fees in foreclosure can be assigned to the taxpayer under state law.

Commissioners asked for additional data on how many business accounts would meet the $50,000 threshold, and several members urged a phased, transparent rollout to avoid surprising taxpayers. Manning and Bridges said staff would gather the requested counts and return with a refined proposal for formal board action at the next regular meeting.

Why this matters: staff described the recommendations as intended to improve fairness by making auditing and collection practices routine and predictable, including safeguards such as minimum thresholds and escalation steps so taxpayers are not immediately routed into costly foreclosure. The policies would also aim to reduce variance in enforcement that can occur when procedures depend on individual staff discretion.

Next steps: staff will provide data on the number of accounts exceeding proposed thresholds and recommended language for a phased rollout; the board will consider formal adoption at a future meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 3, 2025 Pre-Agenda Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Tax administration staff proposed formal standard operating procedures for business personal‑property audits, present‑use valuation reviews and tax‑foreclosure thresholds to create consistent enforcement and reduce ad hoc outcomes.","taxTitle","Burke County, North Carolina","taxId",51046,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6301467,"Burke County commissioners back request for Army Corps help to remove waterway debris after Hurricane Helena",1535,175000,1710000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2488298-629e75c8419ef4417b9b08411dcd162b&start=175&end=1710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2488298-629e75c8419ef4417b9b08411dcd162b/thumbnail_175000.jpg","/articles/6301467/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Burke-County-commissioners-back-request-for-Army-Corps-help-to-remove-waterway-debris-after-Hurricane-Helena","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301467-8b1bc11e868fd2480a008b22456fd744/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203439&Signature=g9Ia2JxvP4h9xyH8Wzd6TNn8P8ub2vk4geV2W3Y0YhLbqGWTfkVQfkeDhYvLltXqZXm1nKQLlT1a21s1lQmA1Cx5hQJ~HJZAVhKmVWoKV2HPc6OJ0Q1n7SbgMKy8euDn1OaeC4icZT3MH4WWJYTOBoRF4Yt6O55cS8-zbIjjAYTaBm~p5M0eUjuPmshRW~~RB~a7icIBv5qU1URRov334FbAvIOkFZYEVteCYxzLWBV50YZ0B6oarMLz3ozSZp4VsXhKCryKf5H4vNYoo8w35XrMRr81mMibS6ta4CZ5sFvsObfLpi53-Uyl7qDBzZifTqeu07DSplv4xtvMq5fIcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Burke County commissioners voted to ask the state to request a dedicated U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mission to remove debris from navigable waterways and to pair that work with recently eligible private‑property debris removal, following a staff briefing on the county’s post‑Hurricane Helena recovery work.

The county manager, Brian Manning, told the commissioners the county has collected more than 255,000 cubic yards of right‑of‑way debris and has been operating three alternate debris sites (the fairgrounds, Marsh Trail solid‑waste facility and East Fleming). Manning said removal and reduction of debris has included grinding and FEMA‑approved disposal at the landfill after a short, halted attempt at burning because of nearby wildfires in McDowell County.

Manning summarized the two routes available for waterway debris removal: (1) contracting with one of the state‑approved private contractors (the county would manage and coordinate the work and pay the local share up front), or (2) asking the state Emergency Management Division to request a mission via WebEOC for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to administer and perform the work. “The Army Corps option … removes the administrative component from the county,” Manning said, but it also would reduce local control because the Corps would set priorities and timeline after a mission is accepted. Manning added that the Corps’ crews could prioritize work within weeks to months, while private contracting could mobilize faster but would require more county staff time to manage compliance and reimbursements.

Staff gave a preliminary cost estimate only for a single major waterway: an aerial survey of the Catawba River put an estimated removal cost at just under $900,000 for the segments assessed. Manning said a county‑level estimate across all waterways would be higher but did not provide a countywide total at the meeting. He also told commissioners that private‑property debris removal (PPDR) recently became eligible under the federal/public assistance framework for a level‑1 disaster and that pairing PPDR with waterway work could improve access for equipment and provide economies of scale.

Manning described a key reimbursement risk if the county attempts to find secondary markets for debris (for example supplying mulch or timber to private firms). If material with market value is diverted into commerce rather than disposed in FEMA‑approved ways, federal reimbursement for collection and disposal can be reduced or denied. Manning said the county has been advised informally by state staff that the state intends to cover the usual local 10% share after the 180‑day federal window lapses, but he stressed that the county did not yet have written confirmation of that commitment and therefore some financial exposure remains.

Commissioners discussed the options. Commissioner Stroud urged caution about private contractors’ discipline in some mountain counties; others noted neighboring counties have relied on the Corps for waterway work. Following discussion, the board voted to authorize staff to ask the state to submit a mission request to the Army Corps of Engineers for waterway debris removal and to pair that mission with eligible private‑property debris removal where practicable. The board’s motion was approved by voice vote (4–0).

Why this matters: county staff said the decision affects how quickly crews can access waterways, the county’s administrative workload, and the extent of the county’s short‑term financial risk. The Corps mission would shift operational responsibility to a federal agency but reduce local control over sequencing; private contracting would allow more local prioritization but require more staff time and could leave the county exposed to reimbursement risk if contractors handle material in non‑FEMA‑approved ways.

Next steps: staff will coordinate the formal mission request through the state Emergency Operations Center, continue site inventories and GPS tagging of impacted bridges and infrastructure, and provide the board with further cost estimates and written confirmation status about the state’s commitment to cover the local 10% share after the federal window.","Burke County commissioners voted to ask the state to request a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mission to remove debris from navigable waterways and to pair that work with eligible private‑property debris removal after a detailed staff briefing on post‑Hurricane Helena recovery.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6301457,"Burke County Board of Education seeks county approval to buy nearly 14 acres for new elementary school; county places item on consent",242,2188000,2430000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2488298-629e75c8419ef4417b9b08411dcd162b&start=2188&end=2430","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2488298-629e75c8419ef4417b9b08411dcd162b/thumbnail_2188000.jpg","/articles/6301457/Burke-County/North-Carolina/Burke-County-Board-of-Education-seeks-county-approval-to-buy-nearly-14-acres-for-new-elementary-school-county-places-item-on-consent","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301457-e3b3992c691c9257c504216e4cdf146f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203439&Signature=djjTd2H6yF1tDMyLC8InaX6naWNLs6zfqdpMv-d7Mv94dcj~PXRR9wFkFCHe3cZjCO0ywDa0ZureqGRIvZcpfUzX1KlHcLIbWaGzLhyyVkjClMIau5jX4QZFck-sH~xsY7KKatS3jFFBBfi83KzzAvNLfPDfQpTduQ5FFMl2EYVaftN24P9UfXbw7mjey1gnZcDgYpASzUBS8-Sn~fegQvTS8nPUWgTTWGT1jAnnSWytjm4HarOFtW04LYP4rtyuzLcVFsbtnIK9kxwWYw9bDcPETpFWjTOI49fAfD0omyDjAeOG-ozO52sPjw5YDSxp7X6TzuoktG2SvFlmuLt41A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of the Burke County Board of Education asked the Burke County Board of Commissioners to approve a purchase price of $675,000 for two adjoining parcels in the Hildebrand area intended for construction of a new elementary school in eastern Burke County.

Keith Lawson, representing the Burke County Board of Education, told commissioners the combined acreage is approximately 13.97 acres (two parcels: about 10.06 and 3.91 acres). Lawson said the board will conduct standard due diligence—phase‑I and, if necessary, phase‑II environmental studies, a test‑fit for the school facility and a stream‑buffer determination—before completing any purchase. \"There will be a phase 1, phase 2 environmental studies completed,\" Lawson said.

Lawson and county staff noted state law requires county approval of purchase price for property acquired for school construction; the item packet cited the state statute the board referenced in the meeting and the staff presentation. Funding for the project will draw on a previously awarded $42 million state lottery grant for school construction; the grant requires a county match, and the county match (and the land purchase) would come from the county’s capital fund balance, Lawson said.

The request was left on the meeting’s consent agenda for action at the regular meeting; no final purchase approval or vote on the purchase price occurred at the pre‑agenda session. Staff said additional details, including environmental and site‑suitability findings, will be provided before any final action.

Why this matters: the parcels, if purchased, would be the site for a new elementary school paid with state lottery construction proceeds plus a county match. Environmental and fit determinations are needed because acquisition would remove the property from the tax rolls if the state mitigation/acquisition program proceeds.

Next steps: staff will complete environmental reviews and site fit studies and bring the purchase and appropriation details back for formal action at a future meeting.","The Burke County Board of Education asked commissioners to approve a $675,000 purchase price for about 13.97 acres in Hildebrand for a planned new elementary school; the county placed the item on the consent agenda pending environmental and site studies.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6301453,"DSS reports improving hiring, outlines foster‑parent recruitment and adult‑services caseloads",1264,5800000,7064000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2488298-629e75c8419ef4417b9b08411dcd162b&start=5800&end=7064","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2488298-629e75c8419ef4417b9b08411dcd162b/thumbnail_5800000.jpg","/articles/6301453/Burke-County/North-Carolina/DSS-reports-improving-hiring-outlines-fosterparent-recruitment-and-adultservices-caseloads","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6301453-445c9d74093749e59dd9861d3aaebe63/orig.mp4?Expires=1771203439&Signature=WbK3viNKSbZGJnDOGH2kiv2VscnJJh3CPuwJ6lfiv2gskIXP3kZMb1Hal41uwDD6hZ0gSLvV0nDzam3zIbkEWoxAp6Jg3wQXjdSdt6m~cl-iRq~0g8iLEq6xlkIMpU-27n4bq8xXisYawX7Odxfzu-h~NU0JziIX77pJGw4LBJafClgCiSOhnmMGAchwqEzemY5G4xFlwNhqLjZu-pfT8kFO5YQsW9WWgijNDt1TB1tSHkP5Uq3DMh-pmWnKLaA~9VQsHn5vI6mD3lthFEfNRoQdTKwvF4BDRjotcQyT1qlwnA10lG6XEmL~xOcgF9NxbPCrYrzXlO60qPZmGKPeOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Burke County Department of Social Services (DSS) reported stepped‑up hiring and described active recruitment for foster families, two licensing training modalities and current adult‑services caseloads at a county pre‑agenda meeting. The board voted to accept the monthly report as presented.

DSS Director Corey Fisher Wilson said at the time the report was prepared there were 20 open full‑time positions countywide in DSS (about a 10% vacancy rate), but hiring had accelerated: in February the department recorded 10 hires and two separations, improving staffing capacity. Wilson said the agency’s vacancy numbers had been higher earlier in the year and that recent hires and conditional offers should bring vacancy rates down further.

Foster care: Wilson said the county currently has 17 licensed foster homes; the department had recently lost three licensed homes (one because the licensed caregiver became a county employee and two for voluntary non‑relicensing). Of the 17 licensed homes, 12 currently have placements while five do not. Wilson said about 10 of the county’s available 39 licensed beds are open at present but noted beds and household availability can change for routine reasons. DSS staff described two licensing training models for prospective foster families: the group‑based Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (MAP) and a one‑on‑one curriculum called Deciding Together.

Adult services: supervisors described Community Alternatives Program (CAP) and Special Assistance in‑home (SAI) programs that can help adults remain at home rather than enter facilities. CAP is a Medicaid‑covered program requiring long‑term care eligibility; staff said 51 clients were currently served locally though the state‑level slot allocation allows up to 88. SAI‑in‑home is now an entitlement at the state level, which has increased workloads; DSS reported 50 adults on the SAI‑in‑home program and said the state’s procedural changes increased demand. Adult Protective Services (APS) handles abuse/neglect/exploitation reports, with a 30‑day evaluation timeline for abuse/neglect and 45 days for exploitation cases. Guardianship work: DSS said it is guardian of last resort under state statute and currently manages roughly 57 adults under county guardianship, plus 17 contracted with an outside guardianship provider.

Wilson also reported community outreach and recruitment efforts for foster parents, including church events and film screenings, and noted the department’s diligent recruitment plan is renewed annually for the state. The director said the North Carolina DHHS secretary recently visited Burke County and met DSS staff to hear about local practice.

The board approved a motion to accept the DSS report as presented (voice vote 4–0).

Why this matters: staffing and foster‑home availability affect how quickly the county can place children locally, deliver adult‑services supports and reduce reliance on out‑of‑county placements. Adult programs (CAP, SAI) are sensitive to state eligibility and slot allocations that affect service capacity.

Next steps: DSS will continue hiring, pursue ongoing foster‑parent outreach, manage CAP/SAI waiting lists and report updated staffing and placement numbers to the board.","Burke County Department of Social Services reported a falling vacancy rate and outlined foster parent recruitment, training pathways and adult services caseloads. The board accepted the monthly report by vote; staff said foster licensing and CAP/SA in‑home caseloads remain constrained by state processes and workforce limits.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Burke County staff propose formal policies for business personal property audits, present‑use reviews and foreclosure thresholds

Burke County commissioners back request for Army Corps help to remove waterway debris after Hurricane Helena

Burke County Board of Education seeks county approval to buy nearly 14 acres for new elementary school; county places item on consent

DSS reports improving hiring, outlines foster‑parent recruitment and adult‑services caseloads