Dare County leaders respond to revaluation as board signals revenue-neutral tax rate

Dozens of residents and property owners pressed Dare County commissioners on April 16 about sharp increases in property valuations from the county's recent reappraisal, and county leaders said the board intends to adopt a revenue-neutral county tax rate to offset higher assessed values.

The most direct concerns came during public comment. “I think we went a little too far with these reevaluations and a lot of people are not going to be able to afford them,” resident Barry Sims told commissioners, saying his new bill after revaluation would be “just under what my original tax bill was when I moved here.”

County officials responded with an explanation of the revaluation process and how the board plans to set the tax rate. The county manager said the county’s tax rate will be reduced to make the county portion revenue neutral: “The rate will go down to 26.32¢” (per $100 of assessed value), which the manager said would leave county revenues roughly unchanged compared with last year despite higher assessed values.

Commissioners and staff explained the difference between assessed value increases and tax bills. The county manager emphasized that increasing assessed value does not automatically mean higher taxes if the board lowers the rate to maintain revenue neutrality. “The mere fact that your value went up doesn't mean we're taxing you more,” a staff response to a commenter said.

County staff described how assessors used recent sales transactions as comparables, applied statutory formulas and adjustment factors, and acknowledged that some individual appraisals can be incorrect. The county manager noted an appeal process is available: “If your property you believe is outrageous and isn't right then there's an appeal process you can go in and ... the board of equalization will review that and if they agree with you they'll change that value.”

Several residents said their assessments rose well above neighborhood averages, citing examples of lots and houses with increases greater than 90 percent. County officials said those individual concerns can be reviewed through the formal appeal process and encouraged residents who believe their values are incorrect to file appeals with the county assessor.

Why it matters: Reappraisals that move many properties into higher assessed categories often produce public concern because taxpayers conflate assessed value with tax bills. Commissioners told the meeting that the board expects to set the county tax rate to preserve county revenue levels, but the final tax bill for any property will also depend on municipal levies, fire district taxes and other jurisdictional charges.

What’s next: Commissioners said budget work is ongoing and the revenue-neutral rate was included in the draft budget. Residents with specific valuation questions were directed to the county assessor’s office and to the board of equalization for appeals.