Chowan commissioners have adopted a $21.3 million budget for 2024-25 that raises the county tax rate by 3 cents to provide more funding for schools, emergency medical services and the county library.
Commissioners also agreed Monday to place a $15 million recreation bond on the November ballot. If voters approve the referendum, the county tax rate again would have to rise, but likely not until the 2025-26 fiscal year.
Under the budget commissioners approved on Monday, Chowan's tax rate will rise from 66.5 cents per $100 valuation to 69.5 cents.
County Manager Kevin Howard said the tax increase will allow for three adjustments to the budget commissioners had considered adopting several weeks ago. The county's appropriation to the Edenton-Chowan Schools will increase to $13,250,430, while the appropriations for emergency medical services and the library will rise to $2,508,496 and $296,584, respectfully.
The recreation bond, if voters approve November's referendum, would be financed at 5.344%, requiring the county tax rate to increase by 6.4 cents. Any tax rate increase from the recreation bond wouldn't take place until 2025-26, and only if the recreation bond passes.
The recreation bond has been a source of some contention, with some Chowan residents advocating that it include funding to construct an indoor swimming pool to facilitate high school and senior citizen athletics. The county had considered a range of bonds up to $35 million but settled on the lower $15 million amount.
Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Kirby said commissioners could not make the bond's finances work to include a swimming pool.
“I don’t believe there’s enough money in there for the swimming pool," he said. "We don’t see that as a feasible use of the public funds that we’ve been entrusted with."
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