Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Pender County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
12 issues in taxes budget
DSS funding for federal H.R. 1 implementation
The county was slated to accept $254,546.89 to cover extra social services administrative costs tied to federal Medicaid eligibility changes under H.R. 1.
Tax bill printing error
Roughly 2,219 property tax bills went out with wrong amounts after a software rollback issue tied to Senate Bill 889's schedule-of-values requirement. Corrected bills should mail within days, but commissioners are demanding a deeper look.
PAS-TRAN Public Transportation Funding
PAS-TRAN is the county's only public transportation service, providing 21,128 rides last year including 1,811 wheelchair trips. The board was asked to hold a hearing on and approve $165,908 in local match funding for federal grants that keep the buses running.
NC Capital Needs Based Grant / Tier Status
The county's largest water grant application is due Saturday and just needs a board vote — but there was no quorum to approve it. The county manager's team has been working on it and hopes for alternatives before the next meeting.
Tax Collection and Foreclosure
The tax office reported a 97.71% collection rate and 254 active foreclosures (down from 377 in 2023). Commissioners debated foreclosure practices and asked whether legal work could be done in-house to save money; details went to closed session.
Housing Voucher Program Shortfall
Two housing items were slated: a Project Based Voucher housing assistance contract and a resolution to cover a projected Housing Choice Voucher shortfall using the county's unrestricted net position. Together they address how the county keeps rental assistance flowing for lower-income residents.
2026 Property Tax Revaluation Suspended
Dozens of residents complained their property appraisals were inaccurate and inconsistent, and the board unanimously suspended the 2026 revaluation, hired a reviewer for Vincent Valuations' figures, and moved the revaluation to 2027. The county paid the firm about $2.3 million.
County fund balance use
The county has $68.6 million in fund balance, which drops to about $48 million after planned uses. Commissioners discussed whether to use some of it — one time — to help the schools.
FY 2026-2027 County Budget
Commissioners wrestled with a growing list of recurring positions against rising property values from revaluation, urging the manager to fund only what's essential and consider a hiring freeze on discretionary adds.
2026 Personnel Policy changes
New policy folds volunteer, bereavement, and mental health leave into PTO, ends banking holidays worked, and incorporates Fire/EMS shifts — with on-call pay and EMS pay to be revisited.
Proposed budget with 2-cent tax increase
County Manager Sawyer said the new budget coming June 15 includes a 2-cent tax increase. Groves flatly opposed it and Tate called it an insult to taxpayers given unresolved appraisal appeal errors.
Child Care Assistance Prioritization
The county adopted a policy setting the order in which families get subsidized child care funds; it passed 3-1.