Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Tax Revaluation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Beaufort County tax assessor outlines revaluation; hundreds of residents urge relief at public hearing
Summary
Tax assessor Lloyd explained the countywide reappraisal process and key dates as dozens of residents criticized steep value increases and urged commissioners to lower the tax rate or provide relief; board extended the public-comment period and set board of equalization dates.
Lloyd, Beaufort County's tax assessor, presented the county's revaluation process and key timelines, saying state law requires counties to reappraise property at least once every eight years and that Beaufort's last reappraisal was in February 2018. Lloyd told the Board of Commissioners that appraisers used roughly 1,350 arm's‑length sales from 2023–24 to develop schedules, producing a median sales ratio near 0.9964 and a coefficient of dispersion of about 11. He described mass appraisal methods, sources of data (sales, permits and GIS), and the appeals process for owners who disagree with assessed values.
The presentation was followed by more than an hour of public comment focused on high assessed values and financial strain on fixed‑income residents. Dozens of speakers described large percentage increases to assessments for homes and small parcels, raised concerns about medical and household affordability, and urged commissioners to lower the tax rate to prevent homeowners from losing property. Several residents — including Toby J. Tedderton, Tony Tetherton and Sherry Tyson — said they planned to file appeals and asked for more help navigating the informal appeal process Lloyd described. Nancy Cameron Hubbard asked commissioners to intervene after hearing local reports that Aurora School might close, saying a closure would harm that town's economy and families.
Commissioners and county staff clarified process and timing. Lloyd repeated key dates: the appraisal effective date is Jan. 1, 2025; reappraisal notices mailed Feb. 26, 2025; order of equalization and review begins April 28; informal reviews are encouraged by mid‑April and formal appeals must be filed by May 12 to reach the Board of Equalization and Review. Commissioners reminded speakers that tax bills and the final tax rate will determine actual tax bills and that the county must calculate a revenue‑neutral tax rate after appeals and final values are set. The board voted to extend the public‑comment period from 30 minutes to one hour to allow more residents to speak, and staff scheduled multiple Board of Equalization dates in late April and May to hear formal appeals.
Why it matters: Revaluation can change assessed values dramatically in some neighborhoods; appeals, Board of Equalization hearings and the county's choice of tax rate determine whether individual homeowners' tax bills rise or fall. Lloyd urged residents to submit clear evidence with appeals — comparable sales, photos, perk tests or recent fee appraisals — to support adjustments. He also said county staff will provide neighborhood sales summaries on request to help owners evaluate assessments.
The board and staff gave residents next steps and contacts: review the online sales and property data, file an informal appeal with the assessor's office (recommended as soon as possible), and, if unresolved, file a formal appeal to the Board of Equalization and Review before the May 12 deadline. Commissioners said they expect to determine the revenue‑neutral rate only after appeals are processed and final totals are available.
