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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-10-16 Agenda Review NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 36 AGENDA REVIEW, OCTOBER 16, 2025 PAGE 689 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met on October 16, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. for Agenda Review in Conference Rooms 137-139 at the New Hanover County Government Center, 230 Government Center Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina. Members present: Chair Bill Rivenbark; Vice Chair LeAnn Pierce; Commissioner Dane Scalise; Commissioner Stephanie A.C. Walker; and Commissioner Rob Zapple. Staff present: County Manager Chris Coudriet; Clerk to the Board Kymberleigh G. Crowell; and County A?orney K. Jordan Smith. Chair Rivenbark called the Agenda Review mee?ng to order to review items for the October 20, 2025 Regular Mee?ng, beginning with a staff update. STAFF UPDATE Tax Administrator Allison Snell presented the following informa?on on revalua?on:  2025 Appeals Update:  Median Increase: 67%  Total Appeals: 5,863  Percentage of Appeals filed: 5%  Original Value of Appeals filed: $14,337,891,800  Total Value Adjustment: ($1,717,023,100)  Percentage of Adjustment: (12%)  Total Appeals Closed: 3,649  Remaining Appeals: 2,214  Revalua?on Purpose and Process:  Required by statute to be conducted once every eight years. The County is on a four-year cycle.  Market trends, costs, and income are analyzed to determine current true market values.  Reestablishing true market value serves to reins?tute equity amongst various property types.  From ini?al market analysis to finalizing appeals, the revalua?on process typically spans about two- and-a-half-years.  Breakdown of NC coun?es:  New Hanover County Median Sales History:  Balancing Costs and Benefits:  Benefit of two-year revalua?on cycle:  Capturing market value and reins?tu?ng equity more frequently  An?cipate less s?cker shock  Build confidence from the property owners  An?cipate fewer appeals  Cost/concern of advancing the revalua?on cycle:  Revalua?on fa?gue from property owners  Addi?onal costs:  Other: $35,000-40,000 every two years versus every four years  Addi?onal tax staff: $550,000 annually for seven new staff  Timeline:  FY 2027: Hire, train, and develop staff; begin work for 2029 revalua?on (normal four-year cycle); and implement new technology/so?ware  FY 2028: 2029 revalua?on work con?nues; staff training con?nues; and market/cost/income analysis NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS BOOK 36 AGENDA REVIEW, OCTOBER 16, 2025 PAGE 690  FY 2029: Schedule of Values presented and adopted; set values and mail value no?ces; Board of Equaliza?on and Review convenes; and begin work for 2031 revalua?on (moving to a two-year cycle)  FY 2030: Complete 2029 revalua?on appeals; 2031 revalua?on work con?nues; and market/cost/income analysis In response to ques?ons, Ms. Snell explained that the County will complete its next four-year revalua?on in 2029 and could transi?on to a two-year cycle beginning in 2031 if directed by the Board. She said the topic arose from statewide discussions following steep valua?on increases across many coun?es, promp?ng considera?on of shorter cycles to reduce the “s?cker shock” from significant increases. County Manager Coudriet said he requested the analysis a?er average property values rose 67% in the latest four-year cycle compared to 35% in the previous one, effec?vely doubling over eight years. He said more frequent revalua?ons could help moderate those swings and more accurately reflect market condi?ons but emphasized that any change would require early planning, public educa?on, and clear Board direc?on. The Board discussed whether to shorten the County’s revalua?on cycle from four years to two. Chair Rivenbark, Vice-Chair Pierce, and Commissioners Walker and Scalise expressed concerns about cost, staff workload, and poten?al taxpayer confusion. Concerns were expressed about how residents might perceive more frequent revalua?ons as excessive. Most agreed that the current four-year schedule provides a fair balance within the state’s eight-year requirement. Commissioner Zapple supported exploring a shorter cycle, ci?ng technological advances, ongoing growth, and high appeal volumes as reasons to consider more gradual adjustments that could reduce taxpayer frustra?on. The Board agreed that any change would require public input, clear communica?on, and careful evalua?on of market trends before moving forward. Hearing no further discussion, Chair Rivenbark moved the mee?ng into the review of agenda items. Consent Agenda Item #4: Resolution Delegating Real Estate Excise Tax Refund Authority. Commissioner Zapple requested that the resolution be adjusted to include a requirement for staff to report any approved refunds back to the Board. County Attorney Smith confirmed his understanding of the request and agreed to incorporate the addition. He stated that an updated version of the resolution reflecting the change would be prepared for the Board’s consideration at Monday’s meeting. Regular Agenda Item #9: Consideration of Scotts Hill Water Main Extension CDBG-I Compliance Manual Resolution. Commissioner Zapple noted he had not seen an application with such extensive requirements during his tenure and thanked staff for their work in guiding an excellent project through a complex process. Regular Agenda Item #10: Presentation of the NHC Destination 2050 Comprehensive Plan Update Final Goals and Future Land Use Map. Commissioner Zapple noted the proposed updates represent a major rework of the 2016 Comprehensive Land Use Plan. He thanked staff for their thorough work, stating the revisions appear to be headed in the right direction and addressed issues raised over the years. ADJOURNMENT There being no further discussion, Chair Rivenbark adjourned the meeting at 4:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kymberleigh G. Crowell Clerk to the Board Please note that the above minutes are not a verbatim record of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners meeting. The entire proceedings are available online at www.nhcgov.com.