Lenoir County Board of Commissioners voted to approve the county manager’s recommended budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

“The FY 2023 Budget, as adopted by the Board of Commissioners, is a sustainable and impactful budget that maintains the current tax rate while continuing the progress towards achieving the Strategic Goals of the Board,” said Michael James, Lenoir County Manager. “The FY 2023 Budget prioritizes our employees, who provide invaluable services to our community, while also continuing the Board’s significant investments within the areas of Public Education, Public Safety and Economic Development.”

In the recommendation were highlights of the proposed budget including:

• Market-Based Pay Adjustment of 5% to all County Employees (2019 Pay Study)

• Maintains Current Levels of Investment in our Public Education System

• Maintains the 2.5% 401(K) Employer Contribution Program

• Supports Increases in State Retirement Contributions for LEO and Non-LEO Staff

• Funding to Begin the Lenoir County Nuisance Abatement Program

• Funding to Being the Lenoir County Tax Revaluation Process for FY 2025

• Funding to Continue the County’s Zoning Initiatives in Partnership with the Global TransPark

• ARPA, State & Federal Grants to Support a Robust Capital Improvement Plan

One change worth noting in the 2022-2023 Lenoir County budget is the difference in landfill user fees. Previously, according to the Lenoir County website, “residents that do not have trash pickup services pay the $90.00 landfill user fee on their taxes to dispose of their household trash at one of the 9 recycling sites located in Lenoir County. Household trash is trash collected in the home wastebasket such as kitchens, bedrooms and baths. Residents who pay the landfill user fee can bring up to a ton (2000 lbs.) per year in the landfill at no charge. Weight does not roll over to the next year. Residents will be charged for everything once their allotted ton has been met.

According to the new budget, there will still be a $90 user fee for use of the Convenient Sites with free dumping. Landfill fees will apply at the scale and there will be two free events a year to dump at the landfill instead of the 2000 lbs. previously allotted. This change should increase the revenue by $138,000.

“I think it's a very sound fiscal budget.” J. Mac Daughety, commissioner who made the motion to approve the budget. “There is no property tax increase. That is the reason I voted for it.”

The commissioners voted to approve the budget.