Carolina Beach clarifies tax rate increase as work on budget continues

CAROLINA BEACH. NC (WWAY) — Dozens of residents came out to get clarification on Carolina Beach’s proposed fiscal budget with regards to a proposed tax rate increase.

The proposed 9 % increase would increase the town’s current rate of 21.5 cents per $100 valuation.

9% of 21.5 is 2 cents, thus increasing the tax rate to 23.5 cents per $100 valuation.

Carolina Beach Mayor Lynn Barbee said residents won’t see more than $100 increase to their yearly taxes on average.

He explained what the revenue from the increase will be used for.

“So of the two-cent increase, about one cent will be for employees, what we call employee retention,” Barbee said. “So raises, cost of living adjustments and some merit increases for our employees. That’s one cents. The second cents, second cent I should say, will go to some of the projects that we have in play. Like you heard the town manager describe fixing some of our beach ramps and walkovers, paving, some paving projects, that sort of stuff.”

Barbee also said that the $400,000 requests each made by the town’s police and fire departments would be used to add new cameras and equipment for the police, plus raises, while the fire department will use the funds to renovate their living space, as they have no privacy when spending time at the station.

The proposed volleyball court was also briefly discussed.

The courts are expected to cost about $20,000.

Pleasure Island Volleyball will donate the majority of that money, and the town will make up the difference.