Leland facing a proposed 70% tax rate increase

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — One Brunswick County town is facing a proposed 70% tax rate increase for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.  

The town of Leland currently stands at a 23-cent tax rate. With this proposed increase, it would jump to 39-cents.  

Leland Town Councilman Bill McHugh said the increase would allow for five new police officer positions, along with five new fire positions to fully staff an expected new fire station.  

It would also secure $2 million in emergency contingency funds, among other items. 

McHugh said the proposed budget has been in review since late 2023. 

“This puts us right in the middle of towns of about 30,000 people and we’re 30,000 and growing,” McHugh said. “We do the best we can to ensure connectivity and to manage the growth as much as we can. But the governor and the General Assembly have said ‘North Carolina is open to business.’ It’s our job to respond to it in the best way we can.”  

McHugh said there will be a Q&A session on the budget at Leland Town Hall on March 5, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.. A vote on the increase will take place in April.