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Cumberland County commission deadlocks on mineral severance tax to fund road repairs
Summary
The commission voted 8-8 with one abstention to reject a resolution embracing a state law change that would have allowed a county mineral severance tax on sand, gravel and similar materials to fund road repairs. Supporters cited urgent road needs; opponents questioned process and local impacts.
County Mayor Allen Foster opened the Sept. 15 Cumberland County Board of Commissioners meeting, and the commission ultimately rejected a proposal to adopt a mineral severance tax intended to pay for local road repairs.
Commissioner Wendell Wilson moved to adopt Resolution 09-2025-4, which would accept and execute a state statutory amendment allowing the county to levy a mineral severance tax on sand, gravel, sandstone, chert and limestone. Commissioner Deborah Holbrook seconded the motion.
Supporters of the change, including Commissioner Joseph Sherrill, argued the county needs a dedicated revenue source for road maintenance and repairs. “I felt the need to fund road repairs was an ongoing need for the county,” Sherrill said during discussion, urging adoption.
Opponents raised procedural and policy concerns. Commissioner Colleen Mall said she did not understand why the measure would not be approved given road needs, but other members objected to bringing the measure forward in its current form. Commissioner Jerry Cooper asked about procedural rules for repeatedly presenting resolutions at the same meeting; County Mayor Foster responded that a resolution cannot be presented again at the same meeting.
On roll call the motion failed with eight ayes (Commissioners Nancy Hyder, Karen Shanks, Wendell Wilson, Joseph Sherrill, Greg Maxwell, Deborah Holbrook, Colleen Mall and John Patterson), eight nays (Commissioners Wiley Potter, Sue Ann York, Tom Isham, David Gibson, Charles Seiber, Jack Davis, Terry Lowe and Jerry Cooper) and one abstention (Commissioner Darrell Threet). The measure therefore did not pass.
Why it matters: supporters framed the tax as a dedicated local revenue stream to repair county roads; opponents were not persuaded the proposed approach or timing was appropriate. With no adoption, the commission left open the need to identify other funding or policy options to address road conditions.
Next steps: The defeated resolution did not direct staff to pursue alternative actions; commissioners may choose to reintroduce a revised proposal at a future meeting following additional study or outreach.
