The City of Kinston must pay $850,000 toward a $1,850,000 settlement to Howard Dudley who was indicted in 1992 on charges of first-degree sexual offense and taking indecent liberties with a minor. He was convicted after a two-day trial. The $850,000 settlement has been paid out of the General Fund. According to the FY 2021-2022 City of Kinston budget, one penny on the tax rate equates to $136,350 in the General Fund. The City of Kinston raised property taxes by $0.04 per $100 of valuation in the 2021/2022 budget.