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By now, most people are aware that their property taxes are going up even though tax rates are being reduced.  Lincoln County Commissioners and the Lincolnton City Council have conducted multiple budget meetings going back to January and both have said they'll cut their tax rates but because of revaluation, the tax bill you'll get in July will likely increase.  

The Lincolnton City Council will hold its budget hearing during its meeting Thursday (June 1st) at 7 PM at City Hall, 114 W. Sycamore Street.  County Commissioners will hold the public hearing on their budget proposal in the Commissioners' Room in the Administration Office, 353 North Generals Blvd., next Monday evening (June 5th) at 6:30 PM.

In addition to the ad valorem property tax, County residents will also have to pay at fire district tax that varies according to which fire department serves your location.  The fire district taxes are either the same or slightly less than for fiscal 2023.  Some fees, such as those for using certain County facilities, will also be increased.

Whether you live in the city or county, one way you can save a little on your taxes is by paying early.  Lincoln is one of a small number of North Carolina counties that offers a 2% discount if you pay before the actual due date of September 1st.  The City has previously (and likely will again this week) adopted the same policy.  

Lincoln County and the City of Lincolnton aren't alone in lowering tax rates but still charging more in taxes because of increased property values.  Revaluations also occurred this year in Gaston and Catawba counties as well as many others across the state.  The state told Cleveland County it would have to schedule a revaluation (now planned for early next year) even though it had revalued properties in 2021 because the values it was using (like most other counties) were less than the 75% of true value required by the state to be maintained.  

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