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The very word "taxes" makes most people cringe, but PKSers have good reason
to be thankful,
COUNT When the Town was incorporated in 1973* the original tax rate was fixed
YOUR at 11^0 per $100 of assessed value. During the years between 1973 and
BLESSINGS 1983 the tax rate has risen, but only to the present level of 19^1
Although during those 10 years property was revalued upward for tax
purposed, run-away inflation and the spiraling costs of operating the
town make this a remarkable record.
Compare this 190 rate with the tax rate of the County and of the other towns
of Carteret;
Carteret County -^10
Atlantic Beach -^50
Beaufort 680
Gape Carteret 200
Emerald Isle 300
Indian Beach ——250
Morehead City 770
Newport if 30
^ Now look at the total assessed value of the Towns in the County:
Emerald Isle —$165,000,000.
Morehead City $113,003,756,
Pine Knoll Shores $105,002,59^.
Atlantic Beach — $ 80,000,000,
Beaufort -$ 66,000,000,
Cape Carteret — $ 29,779,391#
Newport — —$ 29,642,925.
Indian Beach $ 16,900,000,
PKS operates on a fiscal year basis ending in mid-year. In the I98I-I982 fiscal
year taxes were budgeted at $149,000, As it turned out, that year's tax collection
reached 100 per cent (believe it or notl) for a total yield of $165,018,55. The current
fiscal year seems to be going well, too, with a collection to date of $164,543.24,
being 86,6 per cent of the tal tax levied.
After January 1, a 2^ penalty is added to unpaid taxes and on the first of each
month thereafter, an additional penalty of 3/4 of 1 per cent is imposed. In May, a
“Lien Sale" is held and a lien upon the property sold at public auction. The lien is
usually bought in by the town. If payment is still not forthcoming, and after the
lapse of certain statutory periods of time, the property may be sold. From the proceeds
of sa]fithe town will collect the unpaid taxes plus interest and costs.
No resident of PKS could have failed to notice the re-surfacing of Oakleaf Drive
west of the Oakleaf bridge. That work prompted a question as to the prospects for
further street work,
HIGHWAYS Commissioner "Hoot” Gibson is now investigating the feasibility of
AND obtaining a "profile study" of the streets. There are commercial
BYWAYS firms which undertake such work, doing the profile electronically an^^
indicating what is needed and where, A visual inspection would not
veal defects such as subsurface problems, that the profile study would show. Should