Wilmington considering tax increase

Wilmington’s City Council is working with a tight budget this fiscal year. They’re considering a citywide property tax increase.

Michael Davis remembers when his tax bill was 300 dollars.

“You didn’t notice too much of the property taxes because the increments of the taxes when they were raising them because it wasn’t so high,” said Davis.

Wilmington’s current tax is 30 cents for every $100 of a home’s value. A proposed increase would bump that up to 34.25 cents.

“I think that’s bad, that’s really bad,” said Davis.

Davis said, “You got foreclosures on homes, you got people losing jobs, you got the high gas prices, and now you’re going to tell me my property taxes increase? It’s a no win situation.”

Wilmington City Council member, Kristi Tomey said, “There are so many things right now that aren’t written in stone as far as our economy goes, and I think we have to be mindful of that, and I certainly will be mindful of that.”

2.25 cents would go towards making up for last year’s county tax error, one cent for city employee pay raises and one cent for transportation and storm water repairs.

No matter what the money would go to, Davis says he just wishes the city would wait until the economy turns around.

“To increase property taxes now, I just think that that would be a slap in our face to throw property taxes on us now,” said Davis.

City council will discuss the proposal at a budget retreat next Tuesday. Then it will go back and forth between the council and city staff until they reach an agreement. A decision must be made by the start of the fiscal year, which begins July 1.