Beaufort County Revaluation of Real Property: Part II | Eastern NC Now

Beaufort County's Revaluation is Drawing to a Close

    County Manager Paul Spruill brings the Road Show to the Home Field.

    Beaufort County has been working on its revaluation of all real property, within its boundaries, on its regular eight year cycle, as mandated by the State of North Carolina. To his credit, Beaufort County Manager Paul Spruill has taken the revaluation explanation on the road; meeting with, I swear I think he said, 18 groups of concerned citizens (I have attended two such meetings) about the imminent revaluation of their real properties for the expressed purpose of evaluating how much your county can pinch your personal fortune each year ... and what makes this so very sad, this is inarguably the fairest tax to finance the most responsive and best managed government you will ever know. So very intuitively, and quite wisely, it was set up to be this way in colonial North Carolina. As long as I am elected, I will insure that this relationship between you and your county will continue, or expose the failings that limit its possibility to continue as intended.



    All political promises aside, I appreciate our county manager's work ethic in explaining a simple premise, that seems to always remain complicated in the minds of many. Regardless, he trudges forth, and makes the bold, valiant attempt to inform our county taxpayers as to the process and be prepared for what may be a true Bromo Seltzer event - the day our taxpayers receive their once-in-every-eight-year revaluation value.

    That day of imminent revelation should be sometime in February, 2010 as related by the county manager. And he, and the county commissioners just want you citizen taxpayers to be prepared for the impending new lien against your property, and mine as well.

    In these presentations, our manager always uses a host of speculative numbers to expose the obvious, and prepare we, less than willing taxpayers, for our imminent responsibility as property owners. He has droned on long and well about what he refers to as "The Hidden Shift of the Tax Burden." And what is "The Hidden Shift?"



    Simply, and without Paul's speculative figures, "The Hidden Shift" is the reconciliation of the yearly valua tion of personal and business property, with the eight year revaluation of real property. One year valuation / eight year revaluation in relative terms, there is a word problem here, and Paul Spruill has used his road show to propose that measure of relativity. Eventually the real property owner's value is brought into line at the conclusion of the eight year cycle with the yearly personal / business property valuation. It really is a simple proposition if one can just relax their mind muscle to the point of proverbially wrapping their head around it ... just a word problem.

    Paul Spruill, ever demonstrative is his expose, used the examples of cuddly stuffed animals sheathed in various vibrant fabrics position in the natural places of county commissioners, and giving these vivid imposters colorful names, like "Pigman Stan," to enrich his explanation of each taxpayers distinctive scenario. I personally appreciated his creative explanation, but "Stan the Swine" ... thanks a bunch Paul.

    I do believe what Paul was trying to exhibit is that county commissioners pay property taxes just like everyone else, and while this is the fairest and the most efficient tax, it is quite a struggle, but an immutable fact that it is our sincere purpose to endeavor to be fair. There are over 44,000 taxable parcels in Beaufort County, and we have spent about 1.1 million dollars (about 22.00 per appraisal) to accomplish this state mandated revaluation. It is our intent to be efficient , but moreover fair. To accomplish this premise, we take a direct approach to the revaluation, and as is permitted by law, we, commissioners, are responsible for the conclusion of this revaluation and its eventual culmination through the numerous Equalization and Review (E & R) sessions that will surely conclude the eventual end of this eight year cycle.

    But now, we are approaching the conclusion of the appraisal component of the revaluation. County Manager Paul Spruill has, and will keep you informed. This last meeting will be video-cast to all who enjoy this sort of thing. I, for one, appreciate this transparent approach toward the taxation part of governing. Keep your head up, and stay tuned , more in the way of explanation will eventually be unveiled.