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Jacksonville staff warn 2026 county revaluation will raise assessed values; show sample tax‑bill impacts
Summary
City staff told the Jacksonville City Council that Onslow County’s 2026 property revaluation shows median assessed values rose roughly 36% in Jacksonville and walked through appeal timing and example tax‑bill increases under current city rates.
City officials told the Jacksonville City Council during Tuesday’s workshop that Onslow County’s 2026 property revaluation will produce substantial increases in assessed values for many homeowners and urged residents to review and, if necessary, appeal their notices.
Mr. Ray, the staff presenter, said county notices show only the new valuation and not the prior value, and that the assessor’s office calculates market-based values and posts comparable sales online for taxpayers to review. “Property values have increased anywhere between 35 and 40% countywide,” he said, adding that the county’s analysis shows an increase of about 36% across Jacksonville.
The presentation explained the practical difference between assessed value and taxable value: exemptions are applied and then the tax rate set by taxing authorities determines the bill. Using the city’s current tax rate of 60 cents per $100 of assessed value, Mr. Ray illustrated scenarios: a $100,000 home with a 30% valuation gain would see a roughly $180 annual city tax increase (about $15 per month); a $300,000 home at the same rise would face about $540 more per year, or $45 per month on city taxes alone.
Mr. Ray and councilors reminded residents that appeals must be filed on the county’s schedule, and that the county’s board of equalization handles informal reviews. “They’ll start their review in May,” Mr. Ray said; he urged homeowners to use the assessor’s online tools to pull comparisons if they plan to appeal.
The staff presentation also compared Jacksonville’s taxable base with peer cities to provide context for rate decisions. Mr. Ray noted the city’s tax base is smaller than several comparators and that roughly 54% of property inside Jacksonville is untaxed because it is federal property (the U.S. Marine Corps base). That lowers the city’s taxable base and makes each tax penny worth less revenue compared with larger tax bases, he said.
Why it matters: the revaluation shifts assessed values but does not automatically change tax rates. Council members will weigh whether to adjust the city rate as part of the FY27 budget process, and county rate decisions and distribution methods (including sales tax allocation) will affect overall household bills.
What’s next: staff said they will return with budget scenarios in April and encouraged residents to read their notices and use the county’s online comparables if they think the new value is incorrect. The council’s formal FY27 budget deliberations and any rate choices will come later in the spring.
