By ELENA MARSH
Staff Writer
The Moore County budget season concluded Thursday morning when the Board of Commissioners approved a half-cent reduction in the property tax rate, from 29.5 cents for every $100 of property value to 29 cents.
With all its funds rolled in, the county’s new budget, which begins July 1, will total $239 million.
As in years past, the Board of Commissioners prioritized a budget that would lower the tax rate, while also keeping consistent with its goal of prioritizing funding for education and public safety. Including the debt service, public schools were allocated the highest percentage of property tax revenue, followed by public safety and human services.
At a 3 percent growth projection, assuming the county collects at its historical 99 percent rate, the county predicts it will generate $2.36 million for each cent of the tax rate. That’s up from a $2.25 million rate for each penny last year.
But not all of the county’s tax rates will fall or remain the same. This year, the county will raise its Advanced Life Support fund, taking the rate from 0.0375 cents to 0.0425 cents. The Advanced Life Support fund supports and enhances county-wide emergency medical services, paramedic operations and advanced life-saving capabilities.
The property tax rate reduction would come a year before the county conducts its every-four-years property revaluation, a process that could lead to higher land values and potentially higher property tax bills.
Governments frequently — but not always — reduce their tax rates in revaluation years to account for the higher property values. They call that a “revenue neutral” budget. That rate for the 2024 fiscal year would have been 46.7 cents for every $100. However, due to rollbacks and further reductions, the proposed rate for the 2027 fiscal year would be 42 cents.
This year, Moore County Schools is proposed to be funded at more than $54.7 million, including debt service. Behind state funding, county money makes up the second largest part of the school district’s budget. The county and district operate according to a funding formula that allocates 38.5 percent of budgeted sales and property taxes — based on the current tax rate per $100 of property valuation — to the school district.
Sandhills Community College is set to see total local funding of $7.9 million.
The Sheriff’s Office would see the lion’s share of increased staffing in County Manager Wayne Vest’s proposed budget. A summary provided to commissioners details hiring one captain, one lieutenant, three sergeants, and eight deputies that would fill roles as school resource officers. The Sheriff’s Office is assuming responsibility for security at Moore County schools beginning Jan. 1.
Contact Elena Marsh at (910) 693-2484 or elena@thepilot.com.
