Harnett County officials press state lawmakers on revaluation, possible moratorium and funding shortfalls
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Summary
County leaders asked state legislators to explain revaluation proposals, warned about local fiscal impacts and sought help to avoid repeating a $5.7 million low-wealth funding hit to schools; lawmakers described committee options including a temporary moratorium and urged counties to submit written local requests.
HARNETT COUNTY — County commissioners met with state lawmakers to press for clarity on pending revaluation and property-tax proposals and to ask for help shielding local budgets from state-calculated funding shortfalls.
Brent, a county staff member who presented the county's legislative priorities, told commissioners the county is seeking extensions and technical corrections to existing state grant dollars and listed Senate Bill 382 as a concern. "We still include Senate Bill 382," Brent said, noting the bill's effect on local zoning authority.
The discussion turned to reappraisal and levy rates after a commissioner asked lawmakers to summarize what is under consideration at the General Assembly. Senator Burton, a state senator who addressed the meeting, said lawmakers are debating a range of options, including requiring revenue neutrality during a temporary moratorium on raising rates while revaluations proceed and proposals that would send larger increases to voters. "There's a laundry list of things that are being discussed," he said, adding that counties should run low-wealth calculations before changing their levy rates.
Burton also warned of state budget pressures tied to health care. "We're $319,000,000 short. Next year, we're going to be $1,000,000,000 short," he said, framing those gaps as part of why lawmakers are studying ways to limit sudden local tax increases.
Commissioners and county staff recounted prior experience with a reevaluation that left Harnett County covering approximately $5.7 million to make the school system whole under low-wealth funding rules. A commissioner said that fiscal hit constrained the county's ability to fund other priorities, and asked whether there is any way to avoid similar obligations in the future. County staff and lawmakers urged continued communication and recommended that counties send formal, written requests for any local changes they want considered.
Lawmakers described the bill process: members said caucus review, committee hearings and the rules/calendars process all influence whether proposals reach the floor. Representatives said local bills often move more easily if they stay narrowly focused and asked counties to submit written requests for local bills. "Pass a resolution and send it to us, and we'll attempt to do it," Burton said, urging the county to document its priorities in writing.
The meeting closed with commissioners asking lawmakers to take back concerns about school capacity, transportation and the cost pressures on local governments. The commissioners adjourned without taking formal votes on legislative items; lawmakers said they would try to convey the county's priorities when session resumes.
