Burgaw approves property tax increase to support growth, public projects, and new firefighters

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — Property owners in Burgaw will soon pay more in taxes after town leaders approved an increase aimed at funding infrastructure, public safety and future growth.

The town is increasing its property tax rate by 4 cents per $100 of assessed value. Businesses and properties located in Burgaw’s downtown municipal service district will see a 10-cent increase per $100 of assessed value.

Town leaders said the additional revenue is needed even after successful community events such as the North Carolina Blueberry Festival and the 1865 Juneteenth Festival, which brought thousands of visitors to Burgaw. Officials said revenue from those events alone was not enough to meet the town’s growing needs.

Under the new tax rate, the owner of a home valued at $250,000 will pay about $1,600 annually in property taxes — roughly $100 more than last year.

Town Manager James Gantt said the increase will help the town rebuild its budget while investing in long-term needs.

“It is an increase, it’s a relatively small increase in the grand scheme of things,” Gantt said. “What we don’t want to see is a huge jump. So if we do even incremental jumps throughout a five-year period, that’s better than having a 20-cent jump at one time.”

According to Gantt, the additional revenue will help pay for improvements to public infrastructure, hire six new firefighters and prepare Burgaw for continued residential growth, with more than 900 new homes expected to be built over the next several years.

The funding will also support projects including the new splash pad at Hankins Park, the Osgood Canal Greenway and Urban Trail, and future community events.

Gantt said rebuilding the budget and raising the tax rate were also necessary because the state freezing property revaluations at 2019 levels.

Pender County is expected to complete its next countywide property reappraisal next year.