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The Media of Record for the People of Pender County www.post-voice.com
Difficult year for tax department
Property tax bills in the mail next week From Staff Reports Pender County property owners can expect to see their property tax bills in the mail sometime next week. Several factors combined to make this year’s tax season particularly difficult. The mandatory revaluation coupled with the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Florence have made the process a challenge for the county tax office. “In the best of circumstances, the general appraisal of all a county’s real property is a monumental task,� said Pound. “However, we have endured multiple setbacks
beyond our control resulting in multiple delays in the completion of the 2019 general reappraisal. Consequently, the delivery of the 2019 tax bills has been delayed as well.� Pound says the tax bill should be delivered sometime next week “The tax bill calculation has been completed,� Justin Pound, Pender County Tax Assessor. “Tax bills have been created are in the hands of the printer. Once the samples are approved – which we’ve been told should happen this week – it will take another 3-5 business days for the print vendor to mail the tax bills.�
The deadline for final payment of the 2019 tax bills is Jan. 6, 2020. As in any other year, accounts with outstanding balances after Jan. 6, 2020, will be subject to penalties, interest and collection remedies. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused our citizens and we ask for your continued patience as we complete this process,� said Pound. According to the Pender County tax assessor’s office, the staff has been in the lengthy process of conducting the 2019 general reappraisal of real property. This general appraisal is mandatory
every eight years at a minimum. Pender County’s last general reappraisal of real property was completed in 2011. In addition to general appraisal, the tax revaluation was further complicated by the landfall of Hurricane Florence in September 2018, followed by a glancing blow by Hurricane Dorian this year. Along with the revaluation, new software was acquired to enable the employees of Collections and Assessing to more efficiently serve the citizens of Pender County. “In the best of circumstances, the general appraisal of all a county’s real property is a monumental
task,� said Pound. “However, we have endured multiple setbacks beyond our control resulting in multiple delays in the completion of the 2019 general reappraisal. Consequently, the delivery of the 2019 tax bills has been delayed as well.� For those taxpayers who would like to begin making payments on their balance, please know the Tax Collector accepts payments all year. Tax questions should be directed to the Pender County Collections Department at 910-259-1222 or Pender County Tax Assessor at 910-259-1221.
One-stop voting ends Nov. 1
Courthouse gets a facelift
One-stop early voting for Pender County municipal elections will end Nov. 1. Voters who live in municipalities may vote early at the Pender County Board of Elections Office in Burgaw on S. Walker Street beside the county gover nment building. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Ballots may be cast through Friday Nov. 1. Surf City voters who live in Onslow County have a different schedule and should consult the Onslow Board of Elections.
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Work begins on facade of historic Pender Courthouse
Staff photo by Andy Pettigrew
Scaffolding covers the exterior of the Pender County Courthouse in Burgaw more than a year after Hurricane Florence heavily damaged the historic building. Repair work has begun on the brick facade of the facility.
By Andy Pettigrew Post & Voice Publisher
Scaffolding covers the entire outside of the historic Pender County Courthouse in Burgaw as repair and restoration work has begun. Repair work on the inside of the building has been underway for some time, but repairing the outside is a big job. “This is work that will prevent future damage to the building,� said Pender County Manager Chad McEwen. “We can spend several million dollars on the inside of the building, but if the exterior still leaks water, we
are right back to square one.� The interior of the Courthouse sustained significant damage as wind-driven rain from Hurricane Florence came through cracks in the brick mortar. The water damaged the plaster walls inside the building. The damp plaster gave rise to mold. The basement of the Courthouse was also flooded, damaging the electrical service equipment and HVAC. Part of the restoration will involve relocation of the equipment from the basement to a higher location. Stone Restoration of America in Charlotte received the contract for the work. Brick mortar
SBA loans available to certain nonprofits
From Staff Reports Pender County Emergency Management has been notified today that U.S. Small Business Administration announced certain Private NonProfit organiwill be removed and repacked “Any molding or flashing that zations (PNPs) in Pender to seal the brick against water is damaged that may allow waCounty has been added to intrusion. The east side of the ter in will be addressed as well. the disaster declaration. Courthouse took the worst of the This will essentially be a comPrivate nonprofit orhurricane wind and sustained plete restoration of the exterior Push Mowers • Lawn Tractors • Zero Turn Mowersthat do not ganizations the most damage. But the entire of the building,â€? McEwen said. Trimmers & Chainsaws provide critical services The courthouse has been building will be examined and of a governmental nature, damaged mortar replaced. closed since the hurricane in such as homeless shelters, The project is expected to be September of 2018, The Clerk of museums, community cencomplete in March. Court’s office, which was housed ters and schools and may be “The damaged mortar will in the building, has moved eligible to apply for low-inbe ground out and repacked to across the street to the Biberterest rate disaster loans. seal the building up. It’s a very stein House. Court is being held These loans are availtedious and complicated job, but in the Basden Court Annex at able following a Presidenthis company specializes in this the corner of S. Dickerson and tial disaster declaration for W.Wilmington streets. work,â€? said McEwen. Public Assistance resulting Pender County also renovated All rotten and damaged wood from damages caused by on the exterior of the Courthouse the old Dees Drug building and
SALES • SERVICE • PARTS • DELIVERY Financing Available
will be replaced.
is using it as a court facility.
Continued on page 8A
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