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Commissioners outline priorities: water and sewer, UDO update, capital projects and tax approach
Summary
At the strategic planning retreat commissioners reviewed staff progress and outlined priorities for the coming year, including utility planning and regional water strategies, the UDO update, transportation planning, capital projects for schools and social services, broadband and a review of the revaluation and tax‑rate approach.
County staff and the board reviewed a wide set of strategic priorities and action items during the planning session facilitated by Amy Cannon (North Carolina Association of County Commissioners) and county leaders.
Progress noted: Staff summarized work completed since the last planning retreat, including updated Census‑period briefings, draft county facility master planning work, a utilities regionalization study and ongoing work on the county’s sales‑tax and Medicaid hold‑harmless analyses.
Top priorities for the next 12 months: Commissioners emphasized a short list of near‑term items the board wants staff to advance:
- Water and sewer strategy: refine short‑term water‑supply options while pursuing longer‑term regional approaches, interlocal agreements and potential interbasin transfers; coordinate with towns and neighboring counties on system capacity and annexation requests. - UDO and land use: complete the Unified Development Ordinance update in 2025 and use the county’s land‑use plan to steer higher‑density development toward municipalities and priority corridors; preserve agricultural lands where appropriate. - Capital planning and debt: finalize a formal capital improvement program (CIP) and associated multi‑year financing plan, prioritize county projects by funding capacity and align funding approach with the forthcoming revaluation and budget cycle. - Transportation and growth management: complete the updated transportation plan, continue to explore passenger‑rail station opportunities (Raleigh–Selma corridor) and support targeted multimodal investments. - Broadband and digital equity: move forward on second‑phase broadband grants and vendor selection to expand high‑speed coverage.
Tax-rate approach and revaluation: Commissioners discussed preferences for a revenue‑neutral or revenue‑aware approach to the next tax rate after the county’s property revaluation is finalized. Several commissioners urged staff to model multiple scenarios and to “back into” a tax rate once revenue assumptions and capital needs are finalized.
Staff requests and next steps: Staff was asked to provide multi‑year projections that incorporate revaluation appeals, school and county capital needs and Medicaid hold‑harmless sensitivity. The board will reconvene tomorrow to prioritize specific capital projects and to set short‑ and long‑range timelines for work on the UDO and utility plans.
Ending: Commissioners confirmed a public meeting schedule for final input on the transportation plan and planned a group dinner to continue informal discussion. Staff will deliver the requested modeling and policy options ahead of the next meeting cycle.
