Board of Commissioners Special Meeting 06/24/26

The Harnett County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting on June 24, 2026, primarily to discuss and consider adopting the fiscal year 2026-27 budget amid significant uncertainty caused by state legislation affecting property tax valuations. The board deliberated on the impact of Senate Bill 474, which could exempt the county from a property reappraisal moratorium, but as of the meeting date, the bill had not passed the Senate. Due to this uncertainty, the county must base its budget on outdated 2022 property valuations, which significantly reduces projected revenues. Several fire districts requested tax rate increases to meet operating needs, with Anderson Creek requesting the largest increase of 4 cents. The board discussed options including adopting the budget with the old valuations and tax rates, then potentially adjusting the tax levy if the bill passes after July 1, as allowed by state law. They also considered the costs and logistics of reverting billing systems if the new valuations are implemented later. Additionally, the board discussed adding a new social services position to address Medicaid workload. The board decided to delay final budget adoption until a special meeting on June 30 to allow for more clarity on the legislative situation and to finalize decisions on tax rates and budget adjustments.