Gaston County approves new budget with a 1 cent tax rate decrease. | Stock Photo
Gaston County approves new budget with a 1 cent tax rate decrease. | Stock Photo
Gaston County residents will receive a little bit of relief through the 2021 fiscal year budget after commissioners voted to decrease the property tax rate 1 cent during a meeting in early June.
The reduction means property owners will pay 83 cents for every $100 of land value to support the $222 million spending plan, officials said in a news release on June 9. In a budget summary, the county notes that spending was reduced by 3%, which did not impact services provided or paying down its debt.
“No manager would want their first budget to be under the shadow of COVID-19,” County Manager Kim Eagle said in the news release about the spending plan. “But it was the hand we were dealt. And our budget team worked countless hours to present the board with a budget that meets my goals and will serve our citizens well.”
The majority of the county's budget will support education and public safety, according to county documents. Commissioners allocated $73.2 million for education and $65.9 million to public safety, which combined represent 63% of the spending plan.
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