The next budget year is looking pretty smooth for Wrightsville Beach, Mayor Bill Blair said Wednesday, but the future may contain some bumps.
Blair outlined the town’s proposed budget for the Wrightsville Beach Chamber of Commerce. While Wrightsville Beach’s property tax rate will remain unchanged, New Hanover County “most likely” will increase its tax rate, Blair said. If so, the town would lose about $80,000 in future sales tax share, he said.
Sales tax is currently distributed based on property tax levy by each jurisdiction, so the county would recoup a greater share if it raises its tax rate and the municipalities do not.
County Manager Chris Coudriet said he will recommend a tax increase of 5 cents per $100 of property value, the amount necessary to make payments on voter-approved bonds for parks and Cape Fear Community College. The county commissioners will have the final say, however.
On the subject of sales tax, Blair said a legislative proposal to redistribute sales tax based on a per capita basis — a move that would benefit rural areas but hurt urban areas and towns like Wrightsville Beach that have high property values but small permanent populations — has been shelved, but is not dead.
Should it be revived, Wrightsville Beach could lose up to 65 percent of its sales tax revenue, he said.
Blair also updated the chamber group on several projects, including a look at the entire water and sewer system. Among other things the town must replace some aging water and sewer lines if it is to continue managing its own system.
Other possible improvements being considered include storing water in an underground aquifer, an alternative that the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority and the Greenville Utilities Commission have employed to ensure a safe supply of drinking water during times of high water usage or emergencies.
The mayor also discussed ongoing efforts to reclassify much of Harbor Island that is now in a high-probability flood zone to a lower-risk category, which would help lower insurance rates.
email Tricia Vance at [email protected].
