Chapel Hill, Orange County Propose Property Tax Hikes
Residents of Orange County and Chapel Hill may soon be facing higher property taxes as the local budgeting process gets under way. “It’s not a perfect budget, but I’m willing to work with you all and make it better,” said Orange County Manager Bonnie Hammersley to county commissioners last week as she presented her $279 million proposal, which includes a three-cent property tax hike. Hammersley said this budget is characterized by “cautious optimism” about the future – in contrast to last year, when local officials had to craft their budgets in the midst of a still-new pandemic.