Treasurer previews redesigned tax bill; council remands telecommuting policy and approves disaster-pay changes

Beaufort County Treasurer Maria Walls showed council and the public a redesigned tax bill format intended to make line-item millage and where tax dollars go clearer to taxpayers. Walls walked through the department's production timetable, explained two mailings this year and urged residents not to assume extra lines mean a tax increase: "It's not a tax increase. It's just a greater display of information," she said.

The presentation emphasized that property value (appraisal) drives tax changes and that the new layout aims to reduce avoidable phone calls and confusion. Walls said e-billing and mailing deadlines are set to ensure bills reach mortgage companies and taxpayers on schedule.

Council also considered updates to the county personnel handbook. Staff recommended approving the emergency/disaster pay elements now while remanding the telecommuting/remote-work section for further alignment with a September 11 state executive order and additional committee review. Council voted to amend the resolution accordingly: disaster-pay and emergency-pay provisions will move forward; the telecommuting policy was sent back to administration and the finance committee for more work and state-law alignment.

What this means for taxpayers: the treasurer said the format change should not increase taxes and that the county will monitor customer questions and refine clarity for the 2026 mailing. For employees, the county will adopt the disaster/pay changes; remote-work rules are being refined and may return to committee with additional analysis of legal and tax implications.