Leland residents protest proposed tax hike outside town hall

April 13, 2024

Nate Mauldin,

The tax increase was originally set at 70%. Council later dropped that to 17%, but many residents feel that any increase is too much. (Photo:Nate Mauldin/WWAY)

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — On Saturday, dozens of protestors gathered outside of Leland Town Hall in opposition to proposed tax increase.

Property tax rates were originally set for a 70% increase, but after mounting outrage from residents, town council proposed a lower 17% increase at their meeting on Tuesday.

Still, many residents feel that any increase is unacceptable.

“You have some people who come up at some of these meetings that you’ve known for years and they ask ‘what can I do? Cause I can’t pay those taxes, I’m going to loose my family home,” longtime resident Joann Johnston said.

Protest organizer Rhonda Florian believes the town will pull back on the promise of a lower tax rate.

“We predict that they’re going to go ‘well we just can’t get everything we need for 17%, so it’s got to be more,’” Florian said.

But it’s not just taxes residents are talking about. Many repeatedly returned to three main issues.

“Three things: no tax increase, stop the town hall expansion, and reduce the payroll,” one protestor said.

Many residents feel that spending, like a $10 million town hall expansion, or salaries for town officials should be reduced, rather than raising property tax.

“The other night at the meeting, they talked about Garner and Goldsboro. Okay, that might be comparable, but not to major cities, and some people here are being paid major city salaries,” one protestor said.

Staff will share an update on the latest budget proposal with council on Monday before they discuss it at their next regular meeting Thursday.

WWAY reached out to the town for comment but has not heard back as of Saturday evening.

WWAY did hear back from council members Veronica Carter, Richard Holloman and Bill McHugh, who each defended the increase, stating that the 17% proposed tax rate is on par with or below other growing cities, and that it was aimed at expanding services.

Councilwoman Carter noted that salaries for town officials are also on par with other similarly sized cities. She added that the town hall expansion is a necessary step to accommodate city services including the police department, which operates out of the building.