Pender County Commissioners vote 3-2 to rescind reappraisal pause, 2026 values to be used in budget

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — On Monday, Pender County commissioners reversed course on a recent decision to suspend 2026 property reappraisals, voting to reinstate the updated values as the county continues work on its upcoming budget.

The board voted 3-2 to rescind the suspension, meaning the 2026 property values will be used moving forward. Commissioners Jimmy Tate and Brad George voted against the motion.

The action comes just weeks after commissioners initially voted to pause the reappraisals following widespread concerns from residents and themselves about significant increases in property values across the county.

Concerns also arose over how Vincent Valuations, the firm hired to conduct the reappraisals, determined the values.

Commissioners Tate and Brent Springer then met with several members of the North Carolina General Assembly who represented the county to discuss possible legislation regarding the pausing of reappraisals.

Under Monday’s decision, the reinstated 2026 values will be used as the county continues to work on its next fiscal year budget. The board also approved moving the deadline for residents to appeal their property valuations from Oct. 1 to June 30, reversing another previous decision made by the board several weeks ago.

Tate criticized the decision, arguing the board should have waited for pending legislation in the North Carolina General Assembly before taking action.

“I think we should have waited for Senate Bill 889 to be done before we took a vote tonight to rescind that vote,” Tate said. “I am not going to be moved by attorneys out of Raleigh or anywhere else when it comes to the taxpayers. I will always stand on the side of the taxpayer. I’m quite upset at tonight’s vote.”

Senate Bill 889, currently under consideration, would delay 2026 revaluations statewide, require counties to use 2025 property values for next year’s budgets, and implement 2026 values beginning in 2027.

County manager Colby Sawyer, who created the motion the board approved on Monday, noted that the vote would be voided if the legislation is ultimately approved.

Looking ahead, Chairman Randy Burton said the county’s current tax rate of 73.75 cents per $100 of property value is expected to decrease as commissioners continue budget discussions.