BY KARISSA MILLER

The Iredell County Board of Commissioners has approved a $323.6 million budget proposal for the 2023-2024 fiscal year.

Following a public hearing, in which one person spoke in support of the spending plan, commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday evening to approve the budget, which represents a 25 percent increase in spending from the current $258.7 million budget.

In approving the budget, commissioners agreed to reduce the property tax rate from 53.75 cents per $100 valuation to 50 cents per $100 valuation. Despite the lower tax rate, most property owners will see an increase in their tax bills as a result of the recent countywide property revaluation.

Counties are required to calculate and publish the revenue-neutral tax rate, which is the rate that would generate the same amount of property tax revenue as the previous year. Iredell County’s revenue-neutral tax rate is 39.86 cents per $100 valuation.

Commissioners said they weighed the need to provide services and school facilities in a growing county with calls to cut taxes.

“I think we’re balancing the needs of the county while keeping Iredell the premier place to live, work and raise a family, I think we are doing the best we can with what we have before us,” said Commissioner Gene Houpe.

“We are doing the best we can with the options we have. We are trying to address your concerns. We appreciate your trust,” he added.

Commissioner Scottie Brown said that if the board adopted the revenue-neutral tax rate Iredell would have the lowest rate in North Carolina, which would attract more people to the county and create additional traffic problems. At the lower tax rate, he added, the county wouldn’t be able to add the 31 new positions needed to serve the community.

“Learning it and seeing it — it’s a difficult decision. Lower taxes is not the answer,” Brown said, describing it as a Catch-22 situation.

Commissioner Brad Stroud, who was elected in November, said that after serving previously as the county’s director of veterans services he now sees things from a new perspective.

“This is a difficult task. You have five people to basically represent 200,000 people,” Stroud said. “We are trying to make the right decisions — trying to make the best decisions you can for the whole.”

Stroud said he understands that many people are living on a fixed income and will see an increase in their tax bill. There are programs out there that can help, and he wants people to connect with those resources, if needed.

Board Chair Melissa Neader said that there have been ups and downs with the economy. She used the analogy of the county standing on a balance beam and made the point that it’s a balancing act, while having to look ahead to the future.

Vice Chair Bert Connolly said the county is facing several financial challenges. 

Commissioners, he said are committed to ensuring that the students in the county have the resources that they need. He pointed out that commissioners are setting aside $10 million for a new elementary school.

“We have so many needs in this county. There’s been a lot of things over the years that should have already been done,” he said.

Connolly said that he wants to see the county’s Parks and Recreation Department expand its services because there are families out there that cannot afford to put their children in sports.

Employee Raises

The budget includes a 5 percent pay scale adjustment, which will increase the county’s entry level pay in an effort to fill some of their open positions with “good qualified applicants,” County Manager Beth Mull said.

She also recommended a 4 percent merit increase for all employees, effective July 1.

New Positions

The proposed budget calls for funding 30 new full-time positions and two part-time positions during the upcoming fiscal year.

Among the new positions are:
• Fourteen new positions in the Department of Social Services, including an attorney and two specialists in the child welfare division, and 11 income maintenance positions to create another team as a result of the Medicaid expansion. The 11 income maintenance positions will be funded for six months, so they will be added in January.
• Eight EMS positions, which will be funded for six months and only filled once other vacancies are filled.
• Two positions in the county’s IT Department, including one application developer and another system analyst with a GIS focus.
• One part-time election specialist in the Elections Department.

Education Funding

In the approved budget, the county’s allocation for local schools will increase to $2,223 per student, up from $2,056 over the current budget. That’s an 8.12 percent increase.

• I-SS will receive $52.3 million, up from $49.4 million, (6 percent increase);
• MGSD will receive $14.7 million, up from $13.5 million, (9 percent increase); and
• Mitchell will receive $4.84 million, up from $4.49 million (7 percent increase)

Fire & Rescue Funding

Iredell has an all-county fire tax that is used to fund fire services. The fire tax will remain at 9 cents per $100 valuation. Each department will see a 23 percent increase in operational funding.

Public Hearing

One person addressed the board during Tuesday’s public hearing devoted to the budget.

“As several county commissioners have pointed out, there are a lot of needs in Iredell County that will need to be addressed in the coming years and beyond,” Amy Miller said. “We are currently faced with the situation of having to take a loan out to complete the construction of the new high school.”