Moore County Commissioners stress constitutional freedoms and county accountability

At the May 19 Moore County Commissioners’ meeting, at Chairman Nick Picerno’s request, the board moved the public hearing to the beginning when he learned one wanted to speak about the Uniform Development Ordinance (UDO) and another on a pertinent house bill.

John Misiaszek said the May 5 meeting’s resolution letter of support for North Carolina House Bill 1089 to cap property taxes was short-sighted because the county needs more funds for water resources, schools and public safety.

However, property taxes do not fund water resources.

He also said studies showed properties sold from 15% to 50% above assessed values. He said HB 1089 would negatively impact the county’s stability in the future.

Misiaszek sent an email to clarify his statement: “What I said was that homes that reported as being sold for the week ended June 17 for between $300,000 and $400,000 sold for 15% above their assessed value. Homes that sold for more than $800,000 though sold for more than 50% above their assessed value  That clearly demonstrates the inequality in the overall assessment process that exists throughout the U.S. and more importantly here in Moore County. 

Maybe we should eliminate the property assessment system entirely and go exclusively to an income tax assessment system? We are legally required to report our true incomes. Property valuations are subject to judgement and opinion.. Neither is particularly reliable.”

To exemplify his concern, Misiaszek shared that a Woodlake home assessed for about $341k was listed for sale at $800k, and it would be on water when the dam was completed.

“I can think of no better constitutional amendment than to keep government from saying, ‘We need more money and we’ll just go get it from the people we have captive. You’ve got a house. We’ll just charge you more because we need to do something whether it’s good, bad, or indifferent,” Picerno said after he’d received letters from democrats and the NAACP saying the bill would deprive voters of the opportunity to show or deny support. “We were the only county out of a hundred to support the resolution. So maybe if you don’t like that it may be time for some folks to relocate.”

HB 1089 and HB 1042 passed the House Rules Committee on May 20. HB 1089 would place a constitutional amendment before voters in Nov. 2026. The proposal for the bill does not set a specific cap, but it would require the legislature to establish limits on county, city and local property tax levies.

Supporters say the bill protects homeowners, especially seniors and those in growing areas, from tax hikes due to revaluations and rising prices. HB 1089 would stabilize tax collections during high real estate value periods.

Counties stand to gain and lose with the bill. Limiting levy growth could hinder funding for essential services and debt payments amidst growth and inflation. Property taxes are vital for financing growth.

HB 1042 addresses affordable housing tax exemptions. The bill expands nonprofit tax exemptions for affordable housing.

Supporters believe the tax cut will encourage more affordable housing development and preservation. With fewer taxes, affordable housing providers could increase funds for operations, maintenance, and development.

Property owners and renters could see indirect benefits if the policy boosts affordable housing supply and moderates rent increases in certain areas. But taxable property and revenue may decrease for counties and municipalities due to exemptions. Increased housing exemptions may require local governments to find alternative funding.

Public speaker Heather McDougald of Carthage asked the board about the restrictions on agricultural building sizes, stating that accessory buildings could not be larger than homes on the same property, even though cattle and horses are much larger than humans. This causes a problem and a financial burden.

John McDougald said the UDO may be trying to prevent commercial buildings in residential agriculture areas, but reasonable language needed to be added.

Picerno called the planning board to the podium to inquire about agriculture building sizes.

Senior Planner Danielle Orloff said the UDO was changed in 2022.

“Get that on the agenda to get rid of that,” Picerno said.

Commissioner Tom Adams asked how chicken farms managed large facilities, and Orloff explained that single-family dwelling properties and bona fide farm properties, which are exempt from many regulations, including sizes, were regulated under separate ordinances.

County Manager Wayne Vest presented the FY 2026-2027 proposed budget.

Moore County Commissioners will hold a public hearing for the $239 million net budget on June 2.

The proposed budget balances a low tax burden with funding for growth, public safety, and school debt.

It proposes lowering the general fund property tax rate from 29.5 cents to 29 cents per $100 valuation while increasing the Advanced Life Support rate by a half-cent to 4.25 cents. Combined rates remain below the post-2023 revaluation.

Moore County’s low levy is due to rising property values and diverse non-property taxes, to which its status as a tourism-dependent county contributes.

Considering HB 1089, restricting property tax rate increases would weaken the county’s budget. Moore County’s strategy focuses on valuation growth and local flexibility.

School capital projects may become the most endangered area, and considering the legislative path, it may be why the General Assembly discussed giving families $1,200 to homeschool students, as mentioned by Senator Jim Burgin during a March visit to Lee County.

North Carolina does not have a law to force developers’ project proposals to consider school capacity, and this is crucial because subdivisions can create overcapacity problems.

As “Quicksand: no legislation for development approval and school capacity” directs, citizens may want to contact their representatives to request legislation for school capacity and development, such as House Bill 1119. When developers, counties, cities and schools are forced by law to collaborate, the financial burden can be reduced and school overcapacity problems can be prevented. Review the Moore County Schools’ capacity charts below.

Moore County Schools has two high schools at overcapacity: Pinecrest with 644 over and Union Pines with 380.

The Area I table was provided by the public information officer and updated using 2024-2025 school year data and was briefed as part of the planning work associated with the new Carthage Elementary School project. The Area II and Area III tables were developed using 2022-2023 school year data and were included in a presentation provided to the Board of Education in October 2022. Those two areas have not yet been updated.

The original Area I table from the October 2022 presentation was crossed out within the attachment (page 2) to distinguish it from the updated 2024-2025 Area I table (page 1).

Lee County School Chairperson Sherry Womack’s board passed her “RESOLUTION REGARDING RESIDENTIAL GROWTH, SCHOOL CAPACITY, AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION” this week. View here.

Moore County dedicates “Sales Tax Article 46” to school construction debt, but those revenues fluctuate with economic conditions and retail activity.

Rising construction costs and inflexible property taxes could hinder school funding.

“Governor Stein signed an executive order for more affordable housing” this week, which may create a growth phase that stimulates construction funding. The issue is meeting demand because increasing minimum wage has not been announced. Another concern is that a plentiful housing market may lower prices, and that would result in lower real estate sales taxes, which are used to fund school construction.

With tax constraints, departments like parks and arts could be scrutinized before schools or emergency services are affected.

For now, the county is on a healthy track, with low rates from higher revenue growth.

Over $2.36 million is generated by a penny on county property tax, giving commissioners buying power with minimal rate increases. County revenue is diversified by tourism taxes, utility fees, Medicaid funds, and interest earnings, plus property and sales taxes, which make up two-thirds of the general fund. Interest income alone is projected at $5.5 million.

The budget shifts major infrastructure costs to enterprise systems and special districts to protect its general fund. User fees, not taxes, fund water, sewer, and wastewater services, with rate hikes of 3% to 10.6% planned for system maintenance. Rural districts tax for fire protection, and occupancy taxes fund tourism, not property owners.

Revaluation-driven growth is another key factor. Property in Moore County is revalued every four years. Increased home values and development boost the tax base, even with lower rates. The 42-cent county rate for services is below the FY24 rate of 46.73 cents. That structure allows the promotion of tax cuts while raising more revenue.

The county’s long-term obligations are primarily education and debt service. Education accounts for about 39% of the general fund, with school debt comprising about 65% of general fund debt payments. Total funding for Moore County Schools is $54.77 million, covering multiple areas. Annual debt for new schools of about $10.5 million persists, while operating support stays at $39.5 million.

Rising public safety concerns are evident. Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, the county intends to create eight new school resource officer deputy roles and supervisory sheriff positions. The ALS tax increase aims to secure funding for first responders. Employee pay is increasing with a 3% cost-of-living adjustment and ongoing health benefits. Increased revenue is needed to cover ongoing costs when growth slows.

Sandhills News reached out to the commissioner chair and county manager for an answer on how they plan to replace lost property taxes if HB 1089 and HB 1042 pass the vote in Nov. and if they respond, will update this article.

The next meeting is June 2 at 5:30.

Stephanie M. Sellers

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