CONCORD, N.C. — The debate over property taxes continues in Cabarrus County.
After recent home revaluations showed big increases, some Cabarrus County residents are concerned they may be priced out.
"I think it’s ridiculous," resident Debi Shoemaker said.
"The more they keep [increasing] all this stuff ... it’s hard for people to live," Alexandria Schifano, another resident, said.
Right now, the county's tax rate is $0.74 per $100 of accessed value -- a number that Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners Vice Chairman Lynn Shue said is based on the county's needs.
"I think we’re going to probably end up with around $0.63, $0.64 which will be able to cover the bases and meet the needs of the citizens," Shue said.
WCNC Charlotte is always asking "where's the money?" If you need help, reach out to WCNC Charlotte by emailing money@wcnc.com
The final cost would depend on major considerations like raising wages at the sheriff's office and giving more funds to schools.
"I don’t want to see people struggle to pay their taxes," Shue said.
A big part of the budget debate also includes the county school board's budget proposal.
The Cabarrus County School District voted Monday to approve the district's budget request for the upcoming year. The $255 million request will help fund two new elementary schools, ongoing maintenance and teacher pay raises.
The district's county-funded budget includes three pieces: The continuation budget, the expansion budget, and the capital budget.
According to a district spokesman, they're proposing the following:
- A continuation budget of $85.8 million for 2024-25, which would be an increase of 5% from the $81.7 million received for 2023-24
- $6.7 million in the expansion budget for 2024-25. The district did not receive expansion funds for 2023-24. The biggest pieces in the expansion request are a 1% increase in the certified salary supplement (worth $1.8 million) and funds to implement the recommended changes from a classified salary study (worth $2.6 million).
- A proposed capital budget for 2024-25 of $162.4 million compared with the $54.3 million received for 2023-24. The significant increase in the capital budget is mostly from two new elementary schools, at a total cost of $101.2 million: $41.3 million to address the deferred maintenance needs of all schools and $5 million to begin refreshing laptops, Chromebooks and other devices for students and staff.
Cabarrus County Schools released the following statement about the budget:
"Overall, the proposed 2024-25 budget will help us meet the educational needs of a rapidly growing county, including the more than 600 new students we anticipate having next year; enables us to attract and retain the best possible staff to serve our students; and ensures that we are being good stewards of taxpayer funds by adequately maintaining the more than $2.5 billion in our buildings and other facilities that Cabarrus County has invested in our school system."
Despite the possibility of higher costs, Robert Slusser, who moved to the area from Ballantyne, said he'd likely be okay with the result.
"[It's] a lot better than living in Mecklenburg County," Slusser said. "Whenever they’re debating, it always makes you wonder how much higher it’s going to get. It never goes the other direction.”
The school budget now goes to county commissioners for consideration.
The county's budget process starts Thursday at 4 p.m. at the governmental center in Concord. It is open to the public.
Contact Kayland Hagwood at khagwood@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.