On June 8, 2021, the Indian Trail Town Council approved the Town budget for the new fiscal year beginning on July 1. This budget will be used to fund the priorities of the Town Council for the next 12 months.
What is the new tax rate in light of the real estate revaluation and what is the difference on what I pay in Town taxes?
The Town Council voted to keep the rate at 18.5 cents per hundred dollars of property value, along with minor changes to non-resident use fees at our parks. The chart below shows what you would have paid in town taxes both before and after the revaluation.
To understand the chart, please consider this example. Suppose your house was valued at $200,000 before revaluation. Your town tax bill would have been $370.00. After revaluation, your house is now valued at $250,000. Your tax bill now will be $462.50, for a difference of $92.00.
| Property Value Before Revaluation | Town Tax Owed Based on an 18.5 cent tax rate per hundred-dollar value | Property Value After Revaluation | Town Tax Owed Based on an 18.5 cent tax rate per hundred-dollar value |
$200,000 | $370.00 | $200,000 | $370.00 |
$250,000 | $462.50 | $250,000 | $462.50 |
$300,000 | $555.00 | $300,000 | $555.00 |
$350,000 | $647.50 | $350,000 | $647.50 |
$400,000
| $740.00 | $400,000 | $740.00 |
People who are having trouble paying their tax bill may qualify for certain programs with the County or may work with our staff to discuss payment plans.
How does reevaluation work?
In North Carolina, municipal and county governments are required to have the real property assessed at a minimum of once every eight years. This work is coordinated through the county government. Some fast-growing counties may choose to assess real property more frequently, such as every four years. Personal property such as vehicles, boats, etc. are assessed yearly, thus a new car purchased this year will have less value next year.
What is my Indian Trail Tax Money Being Used For This Year?
Law Enforcement: 6.61 cents
Sanitation: 3.90 cents
Parks and Recreation: 1.40 cents
Capital Reserve and Debt Service: 5.00 cents
Other: 1.59 cents
Total: 18.50 cents
What are the Other Sources of Major Revenue for the Town?
The four other major sources of revenue are Stormwater Fees, Powell Bill, Sales Tax and ABC Funds.
- Stormwater Fees are billed based on the parcel size and are attached to your tax bill. These funds can only be used for stormwater-related items that will result in reduced flooding and improved drainage.
- Powell Bill Funds are provided to the Town based on the number of road miles maintained by the Town. The Town maintains about 80 miles of roads. This money comes from the gas tax and some supplement funds from the State Legislature. These funds can only be used for transportation projects such as road repair, sidewalks, etc. and only on Town-maintained roads. The money is sent to the Town by the state government. In North Carolina, counties are not involved in building roads. This work is done by the NCDOT or the municipality.
- Sales Taxes basically consist of state and local sales tax. These funds are sent to the State who then remits the local sales tax back to the County. State law requires that the County, through a resolution, determine how it will distribute sales tax back to the municipalities using either the Per Capita method, i.e town population, or the Ad Valorem Method. The Ad Valorem Method, in summary, distributes funds in proportion to the total amount of ad valorem taxes levied. Union County uses the Ad Valorem method and under this method, municipalities with lower tax rates receive less money. If Indian Trail would have chosen to adopt a revenue neutral tax rate, the Town would have lost an estimated $450,000 in sales tax revenue.
- ABC Funds are funds received from sales at Indian Trail ABC stores.
Does Anyone Audit the Use of Town Funds?
Yes. Under State Law, all cities, towns, and counties must undergo a financial audit each year. This audit is then sent to the State Treasurer’s Office for review and then presented to the city or town council for presentation. Once presented, the information is a public document.
Where do I go if I Have Further Questions or Need Additional Information on What is Going on in Indian Trail?
Please contact our Communications Director Abbey Ball, who can be reached at 704-821-5401 or anb@indiantrail.org. Visit our website at indiantrail.org or our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/IndianTrail.