3-cent tax rate hike eyed to provide more school funding

EDENTON — The Chowan Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on the county’s proposed $23 million budget on Monday.

Commissioners were set to consider the 2024-25 spending plan on June 3 but tabled it for further reconsideration after residents showed up demanding the county spend more on the public schools.

At a second meeting the next morning, commissioners decided to increase funding for the Edenton Chowan Schools by $100,000 and approved a 3-cent increase in the county tax rate to help fund it. If the budget is approved, the tax rate will increase from 66 cents per $100 of valuation to 69 cents. That proposed change will be voted on at the next commissioners meeting on Monday.

The general fund budget, as presented on June 3, was $23,050,157, an increase over last year’s budget of $22,426,066. The budget spends $6,889,172 on public safety, or 34% of the budget; $6,683,960 on public education, or 32%; $3,765,665 on government; $2,779,717 on human services, or 14%; and $365,964 on other expenditures.

County Manager Kevin Howard said the proposed budget did not include an increase for the public schools over last year’s figure. Following the budget conference held the following morning, commissioners added an additional $100,000 for the schools. The proposed 3-cent tax rate increase will cover the increased education funding and some other expenses.

A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for June 17 at 6 p.m. The budget may be viewed at the public library or online at https://www.chowancounty-nc.gov/.