GASTON COUNTY MANAGER’S RECOMMENDED BUDGET HOLDS THE LINE ON TAX RATE, DESPITE REVENUE CHALLENGES

GASTONIA, N.C. – Even with sales tax revenues on the decline, Gaston County Manager Matt Rhoten crafted a tight budget that keeps property tax rates the same.

Rhoten presented his recommended budget for Fiscal Year 2027 to the Gaston County Board of Commissioners at its board meeting Tuesday night.

The budget is sparse on new items, with a large increase in the cost of health insurance, more responsibility for the funding of SNAP landing on counties, and mandated increases to the state retirement system causing strain. Rhoten recommended just five new positions across the entire organization – three of which are fully funded by grants or enterprise funds outside of the county’s main general fund.

New large-scale projects are almost exclusively being paid for from enterprise funds, such as the solid waste fund. That fund, in particular, is helping the county upgrade its landfill, the Hardin Convenience Site and construct a new Crowders Creek convenience site, among other planned projects.

Only repairs and maintenance projects and replacement equipment are recommended for funding in the capital fund, including a fire alarm system replacement at the county jail and a building automation system replacement at the county courthouse. The budget plan calls for delaying other needed capital projects to help balance the budget without making a change to the tax rate.

The proposed property tax rate remains at 59.9 cents per $100 of assessed value — the lowest rate in Gaston County since at least 1970. Property owners will continue to pay this rate in addition to either a municipal or unified fire district tax, depending on their location.

Board Vice Chair Bob Hovis, following the manager’s budget presentation, presented a motion that would ask the General Assembly to allow Gaston County to issue a ¼ cent sales tax similar to what Mecklenburg County did for transportation in 2025. The difference for Gaston – and what would need legislative approval – would be Hovis wants the tax to go directly to support Gaston County Schools’ operating budget.

If approved by the General Assembly, the sales tax initiative would then go before Gaston County voters.

The full recommended budget is available for public review at GastonGov.com, at the Gaston County Administration Building (128 W. Main Ave., Gastonia), and at the Gaston County Public Library (1555 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia). The public hearing and scheduled vote on the budget is set for Tuesday, May 12, at 6 p.m., at the Harley B. Gaston Jr., Public Forum, inside the Gaston County Courthouse.