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FAISON — Faison’s Board of Commissioners voted last Wednesday to reduce the town’s property tax rate by 12 cents in an effort to offset county-wide increases stemming from the recent state-mandated property revaluation. The meeting also featured an update on the town’s beleaguered backhoe and an exciting development regarding next year’s 250th anniversary celebration.
Mayor Billy Ward advised the board that communication had been received from Gary Rhodes, Duplin County tax administrator, with an approximate value increase for properties within Faison.
“It went up 32% on average, an increase of $18.8 million,” Ward explained. “Last year, taxes were billed on almost $58 million. Estimated, this year is almost $77 million.”
Ward said that while the town of Warsaw had not changed their tax rate, the town of Wallace had reduced its by 9 cents. He also indicated that Duplin’s county manager proposed a county rate decrease from 73 cents to 58 cents.
“If it passes,” he added. “It’s not passed yet, but that’s what they’re proposing.”
The proposed county rate won’t be finalized until the June 23 meeting of the county commissioners.
The mayor explained that before the town could even consider passing a budget, a budget ordinance would need to be approved and a tax rate set. He suggested a return to the town’s prior tax rate of 55 cents from its current rate of 60 cents. “I just feel like if we get too low and then we have issues in the next coming years and have to go back up, we might have a bigger problem than we’ve got now.”
Though Commissioners Lee Kennedy and Christy Allen agreed with the mayor’s assessment that too much of a reduction could result in unforeseen future challenges, Mayor Pro-Tem Sandy McCarty and Commissioner Ken Avent felt 55 cents wasn’t low enough. They expressed that even should the rate be reduced as low as 48 cents, the town would still experience an almost $21,000 increase in revenue.
“That is the point Sharon was making last month,” said Jimmy Tyndall, executive administrator. “Regardless of what you do, because of the evaluation in the county, you’re naturally going to see more revenue.”
Avent brought a motion to approve the tax rate for the town of Faison at 48 cents, seconded by McCarty with the board in favor.
The tax rate vote was followed by approval of the 2025-2026 budget ordinance.
In other business, the executive administrator provided the board with an update on the town’s well-worn backhoe.
“Short version: if you want the backhoe, you’re going to need a crane,” said Tyndall. “She’s done.”
The town had previously arranged to trade in its backhoe for a new one, but the machine’s failure to outlast the budget year presents a challenge: the new one isn’t scheduled to arrive until July, Tyndall expressed concern should a water main break in the interim. “We do have a mini excavator, you guys are aware of that, but I can’t handle a water main break with just that.”
Tyndall advised the board of the financial impracticality of reviving the backhoe and suggested instead renting one from the vendor they’d purchased the new backhoe through for $3,500. After some deliberation, the board decided to look to local alternatives on an as-needed basis while they await the arrival of the new machine.
The town also approved a fireworks show for June 27, 2026, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Stewart Precythe Sports Complex as part of Faison’s 250th anniversary celebration.
“I felt like the town needed to take the lead on the 250th,” said Tyndall. “Faison Improvement Group’s been a valuable asset to this town, but this is one of those things where the town needs to take charge and let them be the support.”
