NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – After a long, heated debate among New Hanover County Commissioners Thursday, county leaders walked away with the next fiscal year’s budget approved, but millions in funding slashed in favor of a lower tax rate.
Over recent weeks, county staff presented a range of tax rates, with Thursday’s proposal lowering the tax rate from 33.9 cents per 100 dollars in valuation to 30.6 cents. Previously, budgets had been proposed with a tax rate of 33.9 to 35 cents per 100 dollars in valuation.
The budget passed along party lines. Republicans Dane Scalise, LeAnn Pierce, and Bill Rivenbark voted in favor, while Democrats Rob Zapple and Stephanie Walker voted against it.
Six classrooms cut
Almost a million dollars to fund six of the 12 classrooms in New Hanover County Schools’ Pre-K program was put on the chopping block, leading to some teachers saying they feel “blindsided.”…