Months before North Carolina voters decide whether to limit growth in local property tax levies, four of the state’s five most populous counties have raised their property tax rates for the 2026-27 fiscal year, which begins July 1, 2026. Only Mecklenburg County balanced its budget without a rate increase.
County managers across the five counties cited many of the same fiscal pressures: rising costs, school funding needs, public safety demands, slower revenue growth, and uncertainty over state and federal funding.
Different counties, different approaches…