Hyde County is looking to raise money with an increase in the sales tax and voters will have the chance to weigh in during the March 3 primary.
The Board of Commissioners at their Nov. 3 meeting passed a resolution to place on the ballot for voters to approve a quarter of a one-quarter cent increase.
However, this tax would not be on everything.
North Carolina General Statute 105 Article 46 allows counties to levy this tax and under which they can exempt some items.
Hyde County would exempt “unprepared foods” (groceries), gas and prescription medications.
If approved, the sales tax rate on all other items would go to 7%, up from the current rate of 6.75%.
This question was on the November 2024 ballot but was defeated.
“We’re going for this a second time, which is not unusual,” said Hyde County Manager Kris Noble at the November meeting.
Randal Mathews, chair of the board of commissioners, said in an interview that enacting this tax will help the county’s revenue problem without raising property taxes.
Property taxes are paid only by property owners, but everyone would pay this local tax when they purchase goods in the county.
“This would give us a little relief,” he said, noting that Ocracoke property owners pay about 40% of the total amount garnered from property taxes. “Ocracoke costs more, too—to haul trash, to have two EMS crews, which islanders wanted, and law enforcement.”
To date, 47 other counties in the state have voted to levy this tax.
