Surf City to hold informational session about tax hike

SURF CITY, NC (WWAY) — The town of Surf City is set to hold an informational meeting about a tax increase following resident pushback. 

After a dozen years without a property tax hike in Surf City, the town council voted unanimously in June to raise the rate from $0.41 to $0.53 per $100 of valuation. 

That’s a roughly 30% increase.  

In our previous reporting, the town said the increase will fund infrastructure upgrades, beach renourishment, and pay raises for first responders.  

But the tax hike has some residents concerned they may be priced out.  

“It’d been one thing if they’d came back and said, ‘let’s do 10%,’ but 30%? That’s just outrageous,” Mel Herring said. 

Herring lives on 4th Street. His family has owned land in the area for more than 50 years.  

Now 75, he worries his fixed income won’t be able to keep up with rising costs.  

“I got Social Security coming in, and a little bit of retirement coming in, but it’s sad when a majority of my funds that are coming in, they’re going for insurance and taxes, especially when I get hit with 30% with city and county taxes, cause we’re in Onslow County. So that’s going to be an increase too,” he explained. 

Herring feels with a surge in new housing; the town should already be bringing in more revenue.  

“All that money is coming in from somewhere, but it’s not being managed properly for our taxes to be raised like it has,” Herring expressed. 

Though council members maintain the tax hike was necessary to continue providing town services—and improve those that are out of date.  

“This was unanimous, our council unanimously together made this decision. It was not one of us,” Jeremy Shugarts said at council’s September 2 meeting. “The thing is, this affects all of us in a negative way, but a positive way.” 

In response to resident push back, the town will be hosting an informational meeting next month. That meeting is open to all residents.  

It will be held on October 7 at town hall at 214 N New River Dr. following the council meeting.