City staff brief council on county 2026 property revaluation; median county values up about 37%

City staff presented an overview of Onslow County’s 2026 property tax revaluation and urged residents to prepare for notice and appeals. Mr. Ray, introduced by the mayor as the presenter, said the briefing was intended to explain why the county conducts revaluations and how the appeals process works.

The presentation explained the statutory basis and local practice: “A property reevaluation is a a reappraisal of property inside of the community,” Mr. Ray said, noting state law requires reappraisals at least every eight years while Onslow County adopted a four‑year revaluation cycle by resolution that took effect in 2006. He said the county adjusts assessed values and the city separately sets the tax rate each year.

Why it matters: staff cited countywide figures showing the median assessed value rising from about $215,000 (in 2022 dollars) to $295,000 and a median sales ratio around 73 percent of market. Mr. Ray summarized those figures as an overall Onslow County increase of roughly 37 percent, and he stressed that individual homeowners could see much smaller or much larger changes.

Officials laid out the timeline residents should expect: values effective Jan. 1, notices mailed about Feb. 1, informal reviews in March, formal appeal hearings through May (the county hopes to finish hearings by May), the county will set its tax rate in June, and the city will set its tax rate as part of the FY27 budget process. Mr. Ray said staff will return at a March 3 workshop to discuss the city tax rate and encouraged citizens to review the county’s published schedule of values before filing appeals.

Councilors and staff also discussed state legislation that could limit combined city and county taxing authority; Mr. Ray warned that any state cap without replacement revenue would require cities to change services or funding. The presentation noted existing local funding patterns — including that Jacksonville devotes a larger share of ad valorem revenue to public safety than many peer cities — as part of the context for any state action.

The council did not take any formal action on policy at the workshop. Staff said they will make the county slides and supporting materials available online and will return to the council on March 3 for further discussion ahead of budget adoption.

Next steps: watch for mailed notices (around Feb. 1), use the March informal review to raise data issues, prepare formal appeals if necessary prior to May hearings, and attend the city’s March 3 workshop on tax rate implications.