Onslow Commissioners Lower Tax Rate In Historic Meeting

For the first time in its history, the Onslow County Board of Commissioners exercised authority granted to them under NCGS 159-15 to lower the property tax rate of the county an additional ½ of one cent (the equivalent of over half a million dollars) following the start of a fiscal year.

Chairman W.C. Jarman signing Ordinance

This is made possible through the recent enaction of legislation that enables a ¼ of one cent local option sales and use tax to take effect on October 1, 2010 instead of January 1, 2011.  Senate Bill 1177, ratified by the North Carolina General Assembly and signed by Governor Purdue this month gave the county this unexpected additional revenue.


Onslow County Voters approved a ¼ of one cent local option sales and use tax on May 4, 2010 during the 2010 Primary election.  Onslow was one of three counties to do so, the other counties being New Hanover and Duplin.  The Board of Commissioners for the County of Onslow promised taxpayers that they would use any revenues for 3 specific purposes’

(FIRST) lower the property tax rate by 2 cents below revenue neutral with one (1) cent being lowered in July 2010 and one (1) second cent being lowered in July 2011

(SECOND) of the remaining money, 50% would be spent on public safety.

(THIRD) the last 50% following the property tax rollback would be spent on public education.
Being mindful of the current economic times, and in an effort to provide additional relief to property owners, the Board of County Commissioners voted to lower the tax rate an additional ½ cent.  On June 29^th, the Commissioners had lowered the tax rate one and one-half cents below the revenue-neutral tax rate of 60.5 cents per $100 valuation.

The additional mid-fiscal year rollback of taxes means that the Onslow County Commissioners have rolled back property taxes a total of 2-cents from revenue neutral.  The County Commissioners have kept their promise one year earlier than previously thought possible.

In addition to rolling back property taxes, the Commissioners channeled an additional $209,000 in new sales tax funding to the Onslow County fire and rescue system, an additional $124,000 to the Onslow County public school system, and an additional $85,000 to Coastal Carolina Community College.  This once again fulfills the promise of the Board of Commissioners to channel all sales tax revenue to property tax rollback, public safety, and public education.