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Pender County budget workshop zeroes in on expenditure reductions; tax rate waits on valuation decision
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Summary
County staff told commissioners April 27 they are aiming for a revenue‑neutral balanced budget to be published May 22 but cannot set the tax rate until property valuations are finalized amid possible state action; the session emphasized department cuts, vacancy management and next steps for public release.
Pender County commissioners met April 27 for a budget workshop focused on tightening expenditures and finalizing a revenue‑neutral budget for the coming year. County staff said they plan to publish a balanced budget package on May 22 but cautioned that a tax rate cannot be set until property valuation work and possible state legislation are resolved.
County Manager (speaker 2) told the board staff have been instructed to avoid padding requests and to justify every new position and line item. He said the county will “be budgeting to a revenue neutral balance” and urged members to concentrate on dialing in expenditures before addressing revenues.
Finance lead Meg Blue told commissioners the binder they were reviewing includes departmental enhancement requests and a vacancy report. Blue said staff have calculated a revenue‑neutral revenue level but cannot yet provide a tax rate “until we nail down the value conversation,” citing pending valuation work and a potential Senate moratorium bill discussed with state representatives.
Commissioners directed staff to continue department‑level reviews in subsequent sessions and noted the schedule for publishing the balanced budget so that it can be posted for the required 10‑day public review ahead of June meetings. Staff said the May 22 publication target will allow the board to consider the budget at the first June meeting and, if needed, take a second vote at a later June meeting.
The meeting closed with staff continuing to assemble enhancement lists, vacancy reports and clarifications on revenues. The board added reappraisal and valuation policy matters to the May 4 agenda for follow‑up before finalizing the tax rate decision.
