Beaufort County Commissioners, by a vote of 5 to 2, raise property taxes by 6% | Eastern NC Now

    The Beaufort County Board of County Commissioners met at the the Community College from 5:00 pm to 12:21 am to decide the budget of Beaufort County's Government. By the end of the marathon work session, and Public Hearing on the Budget, the Commissioners, by a vote of 5 to 2, elected to raise property taxes by 6% (3 cents per 100.00 of property value) on all property tax bills due by January 5, 2012.

    Voting in favor of the 2011 / 2012 Budget Ordinance, which provides for the tax increase, were Democrat Commissioners Ed Booth, Jerry Langley and Robert Cayton, and Republican Commissioners Jay McRoy and Al Klemm. Voting to hold the line on not raising taxes were Republican Commissioners Hood Richardson and Stan Deatherage. Both Republicans, who voted no, each presented budgets that would have made the necessary cuts to keep the tax rate at 50 cents per 100.00 valuation. The Beaufort County ad valorem tax rate is now 53 cents.

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