Harnett County reports $4.4 million revenue increase in 2024 tax settlement; board asked to authorize 2025–26 billing

Miss Wallace, Harnett County tax administrator, presented the county's tax settlement for 2024 and asked the board to adopt an order directing the tax administrator to bill and collect taxes for fiscal year 2025'26.

The presentation said total charges to the tax levy began from an original billed amount of $77,600,000, with a 5.41% increase in the total levy for real and personal property and a 34.35% increase in the discovered levy (unlisted property). Penalties, fees and interest rose by 13%, and combined these factors produced about $4.4 million more revenue than the prior year. Total collections were reported at about $78,000,000, a 5.9% increase from the prior year.

Wallace explained that releases and adjustments (billing corrections such as sales or incorrect site entries) decreased by 11.27%, which staff said reflects improved data accuracy. She said the county's collections for real and personal property finished at about 99.28% overall; excluding gap bills for vehicle registration lapses raised the collection rate to about 99.44%. Public service property was reported as 100% collected, motor vehicles at 94.84%, and gap bills at 56.57%.

A commissioner asked for clarification about gap bills for motor vehicles; Wallace described them as charges that arise when a vehicle registration lapses (for example, if a renewal due in March is not completed until June), leaving a period when the vehicle is taxable but not yet registered. She said the office sends bills, follows up by phone and email, and, if necessary, pursues forced collections such as garnishments, which can cost about $22 per action and make small gap bills (often under $100) costly to pursue.

Wallace requested that the board, "in accordance with statutory requirement," adopt an order directing the tax administrator to bill and collect taxes for fiscal year 2025'26, including real, personal, public service property and applicable special assessments across municipalities and fire districts; she said bills are anticipated to be mailed in August. The request was placed on the consent agenda for a future meeting.

The presentation also noted Harnett County had 135,717 vehicle renewals during the year and provided a five-year comparison of levy categories, which staff said showed minor fluctuations but an overall growing tax base.

The board did not take substantive debate on the floor; the staff request to begin billing and collection for 2025'26 was moved to the consent agenda for formal action at the next meeting.

Wallace concluded by asking if there were questions and commissioners moved the item to consent during the meeting.