BY MIKE PARRISH
On June 21, 2024 our County Commissioners adopted a budget that raised that tax rate by 3 cents for funding Edenton-Chowan Schools, emergency medical services, and the Library. Edenton-Chowan Schools will receive $13,250,430; emergency medical services will receive $2,508,496; and the library will receive $296,584. If we are to add the Recreation Bond to our property tax bill, another 6.4 cents will be added: increasing our total property tax bill by 9.4 cents.
As of August 2024, the average home in Chowan County sold for $307,300. Therefore, the average homeowner in Chowan County’s tax bill will increase $195 per year. However, the life of the Recreation Bond is for 20 YEARS, now costing the average homeowner in Chowan County a total of $3,900.
Chowan County prides itself in its rich agricultural history, with 64,881 acres of farmland within the county. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, there are 134 farms in Chowan County that have an average of 548 acres per farm. The farmer’s annual average tax bill for his personal home, land, buildings, and necessary equipment is $12,300. If the Recreation Bond passes, in 2025 the average farmer in Chowan County’s property tax bill will increase $1,156. However, the Recreation Bond is for 20 YEARS, making the average farmer’s total increase equaling $23,120 (SIX TIMES MORE THAN THE AVERAGE HOMEOWNER!). Of the 134 farms in Chowan County, 125 of those farms are family owned that raise crops like cotton, peanuts, wheat, among many others. The crops raised by these 125 family-owned farms literally feed and clothe the people of Chowan County. The Recreation Bond is an UNFAIR tax to family farmers in Chowan County.
The only fair tax is a sales tax. Do not rush to make a mistake that will cost families for 20 YEARS.
I think there is a lot to do before we can do this for Rec. bond.
Chris Evans shared with me that we can have a sales tax on the ballot in two years.
Take this time to find out for sure if we can build on Red Banks Farm.
Find a way to get the money for a plan that would include an itemized list of construction costs.
Find out what the current property is worth.
Then we could decide what are our needs and what is a wish list.
Mike Parrish, Parrish Farms Inc.
Proudly farming Chowan County since 1977
One response to “Chowan County Tax Increase: Impact on Homeowners and Farmers”
I’m with you, Mike. Retired folks on Social Security don’t need another burden either. And if renters think they will avoid it, think again. The slum lords will just increase the rent to pay the extra tax.