BOILING SPRING LAKES, N.C. (WECT) – The City of Boiling Spring Lakes is proposing an 8 cent property tax increase for the 2026 fiscal year.
The current property tax rate is at 19 cents per $100 valuation. The proposed increase would bring the tax rate to 27 cents per $100 valuation, a 42% increase.
For example, owners of a $260,000 home that pay $500 in city property taxes would now pay $700 with the proposed rate.
Boiling Spring Lakes City Manager Gordon Hargrove said the city’s property tax has stayed the same since 2021. However, in light of recent storms, Hargrove believes the time is now to boost the city’s response efforts.
Highlights of the proposed budget include the addition of a stormwater team.
According to budget documents, the city has allocated $343,800 to start a stormwater department, which includes the hiring of a city engineer, a stormwater technician, and two laborers.
“Our residents in the community are demanding a higher level of service, specifically as it pertains to stormwater control,” City Manager Gordon Hargrove said. “In the last ten years, we’ve had two thousand-year storms, so we have to resolve some of these stormwater issues and this is the best way to go about it, we believe.”
Boiling Spring Lakes has been ravaged by severe weather in the past. Hurricane Florence in 2018 washed out dams and drained the city’s titular lakes. Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 this past September left many homes flooded, with neighbors still paying out of pocket for repairs.
“I’m a taxpayer as well. I hate to see taxes going up,” Hargrove said. “But, we have to provide these services to the community. Quite frankly, if we don’t, it’s not good.”
The proposed balanced budget totals $7,024,342. Property taxes are a high revenue source for the city, representing approximately 30% of general fund revenues.
In addition to a stormwater team, the budget includes $2.1 million allocated for public safety services, $1.4 million allocated for administration, and $670,000 allocated for street repairs and construction.
The budget also includes a 3% cost of living adjustment/ salary adjustment due to recent inflation rates, and funds 47 full-time and 13 part-time positions.
“I believe the proposed FY 2026 Boiling Spring Lakes budget reflects the Board’s service priorities for the citizens, meets the Board’s stated goals and objectives, while reflecting a conservative approach to municipal revenues and expenditures,” Hargrove explained in the budget packet. “We look forward to working with the Board in the delivery of City services to our citizens in the most professional, businesslike, economical and environmentally sensible manner possible.”
The 2026 fiscal year starts on July 1, 2025 and ends June 30, 2026. The balanced budget must be adopted by June 30, 2025.
A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at 6:30 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers.
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