New Hanover County Commissioners hold 2nd budget work session

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) –New Hanover County Commissioners held their second budget work session on Thursday. 

During the meeting, commissioners received end-of-year performance reviews from various county departments including Fire Rescue, Recycling and Solid Waste, and Storm Water Management. 

Staff also discussed how inflation and rising property value could affect the county’s tax rate.  

Staff have yet to make a final recommendation but expect tax rates to lower this year. However, what residents pay on their tax bill could still go up because of the larger tax base, which increased from $51 billion to $81 billion in the latest reevaluation. 

Commissioner Stephanie Walker said the board still has a way to go before budget recommendations are presented in May. 

“We have a really great staff here that do really good work and try their best to be very budget conscious so we’re just going to keep reevaluating each agency as we go and just see what the recommendations in the end,” she said. 

The board will meet for two more budget work sessions before a final budget is adopted in June.