By Richard Sullins | richard@rantnc.com
Lee County residents are facing the largest property tax increase in more than five years — a jump county officials say is necessary as rapid growth, rising service costs, and stubborn inflation converge. If the proposed tax rate is adopted, homeowners, renters, and business owners alike will feel the effects when tax bills arrive this fall.
County Manager Lisa Minter delivered her recommended Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget to commissioners on Monday, outlining a plan that raises the property tax rate from 65 to 70 cents per $100 of assessed value. A public hearing is set for June 1, and commissioners will need adopt the budget before the June 30 in accordance with state law.
What the numbers mean for you
The county’s tax base grew modestly this year — a 4.45 percent increase in real property value and a 2.94 percent increase in motor vehicle value — bringing the total assessed value of all property in Lee County to $10.3 billion. But that growth wasn’t enough to cover rising costs.
For residents, the most immediate impact is the five cent tax increase. In practical terms:
A home assessed at $250,000 will see an annual tax increase of about $125.
A $350,000 home will pay roughly $175 more.
Commercial properties will see proportional increases, which may be passed along to tenants.
And renters aren’t insulated. Landlords typically adjust rents to reflect higher tax bills, meaning many tenants could feel the impact when leases renew.
This increase also arrives just months before the county’s next full property revaluation in early 2027 — a process expected to raise assessed values for most property owners.
Why this is happening now
County officials say the squeeze is coming from every direction: higher fuel costs for county vehicles, rising construction prices for schools and public buildings, increased demand for EMS and social services, and a population that has grown faster than anyone projected.
“Natural growth in the tax base covered the majority of the continuation budget, but was ultimately not adequate to fund our required increases, cover our revenue losses, and advance the Board’s priorities for the upcoming year without an increase,” Minter wrote in her budget message.
Even with stronger than expected sales tax revenue — projected to grow four percent next year — the county says it can’t maintain services without adjusting the tax rate.
A county growing faster than expected
Lee County is now the 11th fastest growing county in North Carolina, surpassing even Chatham and Mecklenburg in percentage growth. The population has climbed 13 percent since 2020, reaching 70,000 residents four years earlier than projected. Demographers expect the county to hit 75,000 by 2030 and 100,000 by 2050.
That growth has fueled demand for EMS, schools, law enforcement, and infrastructure — and the new budget reflects those pressures.
Emergency medical services
A new five year EMS contract, expected to save money, instead became a drawn out process that will ultimately keep FirstHealth of the Carolinas as the county’s provider. The first year cost of the contract is $2.87 million, an increase of $1.77 million over the current year. Similar increases are expected in future years.
Lee County Schools
After years of strained relations, the county and school board have started moving toward cooperation, especially around efforts to secure state funding for a new elementary school. Enrollment across the district’s 17 campuses continues to hover above 9,000 students.
The recommended budget provides $25.18 million in operating funds — an increase of $1.88 million, but still short of the $26.75 million requested by the school district — to cover rising costs and implement new pay structures. It also includes $2.12 million for capital needs and funds 19 school resource officers at a cost of $1.99 million.
County employees
The budget recommends a 2.2 percent cost of living adjustment for all county employees, with eligible staff receiving additional pay plan adjustments for a total increase of 4.6 percent.
Central Carolina Community College
The county’s appropriation to the Lee Campus would increase by $193,600 to support non instructional operations. Funding continues for the Lee College Promise Program, the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center, and the E. Eugene Moore Manufacturing and Biotech Solutions Center.
Other recommendations
Nonprofit organizations receiving county funds will continue to do so, though at reduced levels. Solid waste disposal fees will remain at $150 per household, thanks to cost saving measures within the department.
What happens next
The public hearing on the proposed budget will be held 6 p.m. June 1 at the new Lee County Library, 1740 Bragg Street — a chance for residents to see the county’s newest facility and to speak directly about how their tax dollars are being spent.
There had better not be any given away to the illegal aliens. The wonderful leadership for Lee County might get replaced.
If our county commissioners and sanford growth alliance would put a complete halt to all these developers putting in subdivisions over populating or county. They say it brings more tax dollars. But evidently it doesn’t! Just makes the residents born and raised here suffer and pay the price for their mistakes. If you want to live in cary, raleigh, apex and pay high taxes move or stay there. Lee County is doomed because of the county commissioners and growth alliance that can’t say no more growth let’s stop and fix what we have.