Morrisville town budget raises taxes over former mayor and petition signers’ objections
Morrisville leaders passed a budget Tuesday night that raises taxes despite a former mayor’s warning it could drive some people and small businesses out of town.
The $58.2 million budget will support existing services and help the town “expand services in critical areas,” Town Manager Brandon Zuidema said in a news release.
“I’m very proud of how our Council has come together in support of the needs that our community has shared with us,” Mayor TJ Cawley also said in the release. “The FY2025 budget makes significant strides to provide a strong foundation for preserving and enhancing the quality of life for our residents.”
Former Mayor Jackie Holcombe started a petition signed by 361 people, saying a tax increase this high would force some residents and small businesses to leave the town.
“Our neighbors may well be taxed out of their longtime homes,” according to one part of the petition read Tuesday night. “Small businesses will feel the brunt as well.”
At the public hearing, Jeanette Conley held a sign denouncing the tax increase.
“I’m all for changes and improvements in the community,” she said. “However, we’ve been receiving (higher) taxes from Wake County. Now we’re going to get this 20% increase from our community here. And the prices of food, everything’s just going up. And it’s really a hardship.”
Every Wake County municipality proposed a tax rate over the revenue-neutral rate during this year’s budget cycle.
The Morrisville budget at a glance
The new tax rate is 35 cents per $100 of valuation, which is lower than the current rate of 39 cents. But it’s still 5 cents higher than the revenue-neutral rate, the rate needed to generate the same amount of money before the recent Wake County revaluation.
A Morrisville home owner paid $1,560 in town taxes on a home valued at 400,000 before the 2024 revaluation.
The average residential value increase was 46%, meaning that home would now be valued at $584,000. The new tax bill would be $2,044 or a 31% percent.
The amount of increase individuals face depends on how much their property increased in value compared to the townwide average.
Town property owners also pay a countywide property tax.
The budget adds 11 positions, a new Economic Development Department to focus on small businesses, raises for town employees and funding for a new Saturday shuttle bus, The News & Observer previously reported.
It also includes park maintenance and programming at the Church Street Park Southern Lot, Shiloh Park, Morrsiville Community Park, phase III and the town’s dog park near Franklin Upchurch Senior Street, The N&O reported.
