Residents urge commissioners to ease revaluation-related tax burden

Dozens of residents attended Onslow County’s April 20 meeting to deliver public comments focused on the county’s recent property revaluation and potential impacts on household budgets.

Multiple speakers described large assessment increases and the strain that higher bills and higher insurance escrows could cause for homeowners on fixed incomes. "This is the most inflammatory budget that I have ever seen," said Troy Futrol, who said his farmland’s assessed value rose sharply and that he plans to hire a soil scientist to pursue a wetlands designation for part of his parcel. Tracy Riner, representing Surf City property owners, said many residents saw increases of 48–52 percent and asked the board for a tax rate that would be revenue neutral for those households.

Several commenters said the online appeal process and 30-day filing window created barriers. Steve Wicker, a retiree who said his assessment rose nearly 50 percent in four years, urged more time to gather supporting documents and cited internet access and technology barriers for some older residents. "A little more time would have been much more helpful," he told commissioners.

Speakers cited examples from nearby counties and called on commissioners to consider options adopted elsewhere, including temporarily using prior-year values while appeals are reviewed. Commissioners responded that they cannot change the revaluation process—the state-mandated appraisal—and that the board will consider the revaluation results before setting the tax rate at upcoming budget hearings; staff announced the board will receive the budget presentation June 1 and hold the proposed-budget hearing June 15.

Next steps: residents may pursue appeals through the Board of Equalization and Review; the commission will determine the tax rate during the budget process after reviewing revaluation data.