High Point mayor says council will not adopt budget until state legislation is resolved

Mayor Sel Jefferson said the High Point City Council will not adopt its annual budget at the meeting because pending legislation in Raleigh changes property valuations and how municipalities set tax rates and has not yet been finalized.

Jefferson said the bill "literally was just approved last week" and is with the governor, who has a 10-day window to sign or veto it. "We cannot in good conscience vote on a budget where we literally can't set a tax rate without knowing property values for the city of High Point," Jefferson said, adding the council will schedule a special-called meeting prior to the June 30 deadline and provide proper public notice once the legislative outcome is clear.

Why it matters: The council normally adopts its annual budget during a June meeting. Jefferson told residents and attendees that uncertainty about property valuations prevents the city from establishing a tax rate — a prerequisite for budget adoption — and that the council will move quickly after the governor's decision.

What happens next: Jefferson said the governor's 10-day review period must end before the council can safely set property values and a tax rate. If the governor vetoes the legislation, Jefferson said there would be an additional process before the city could proceed. The council committed to calling a special meeting to adopt the budget once the state issue is resolved.

Provenance: Mayor Jefferson's announcements and budget explanation were delivered at the start of the meeting (see timeline entries covering SEG 018–SEG 085).