Stories Across Granville

Jennifer Baird Appointed as Granville County’s Next Finance Director

Posted March 28, 2024

Granville County will welcome Jennifer Baird as Finance Director on April 15. Baird brings 19 years of state and local government finance experience and leadership to her new role, and she will lead Finance Office operations while current Finance Director Steve McNally transitions to his retirement in the coming months.

Baird joins Granville County after three years with the City of Durham as Senior Fiscal Analyst and Accounting Operations Supervisor. During her time in Durham, Baird helped develop the personnel and operating budget for the Water and Sewer Fund and managed all operations of the city’s Utility Finance Department. Prior to her time in Durham, Baird served as Business Officer II, Assistant Finance Manager and other accounting and finance positions for the State of North Carolina departments of Health and Human Services, Public Instruction, and Agriculture and Consumer Services. In these roles she prepared state budget requests and certifications for various grant programs and managed accounts payable operations for the state-wide Child Nutrition Grant. She also served as the Chief Finance Officer for Granville-Vance Public Health for two years in between her time with the State of North Carolina and the City of Durham. Baird began her career as a Family Preservation Case Worker for Person County Cooperative Extension before moving into accounting.

“I am thrilled and honored to have been selected as Granville County’s next Finance Director,” said Baird. “I look forward to working with County Administration, our Board of Commissioners, and staff from all county departments to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly, and the county’s finances are protected. Granville County has a sterling reputation of financial management, and I am proud to join and continue that legacy.”

A Person County native, Baird graduated from Person High School in Roxboro and holds degrees in Accounting and Human Services from Vance-Granville Community College and Piedmont Community College. She is also completing the North Carolina Finance Officer Certification Course at the School of Government at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Baird moved to Granville County in 1993 and still resides in the Berea community. She and her husband Gary have two children – Austin and Courtney – and two grandchildren – Reid and Miles. During her free time, Baird enjoys being active by teaching group fitness classes and participating in Spartan obstacle races. She has also served as a therapeutic foster parent and dedicates volunteer hours to the anti-human trafficking nonprofit Cry Freedom Missions in Person County.

Board of Commissioners Meeting Recap – March 18, 2024

Posted March 20, 2024

The Granville County Board of Commissioners held a regular meeting on Monday, March 18 at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center. The meeting featured an update on the 2024 revaluation process, a rezoning of four lots in the Wilton Community, and proclamations recognizing Small Farms Week and Fair Housing Month.

Tax Administrator Jenny Short provided an update to the Board of Commissioners on the 2024 revaluation process. Assessment notices were sent to all property owners beginning February 12 and informal appeals of assessed value are underway now. Property owners can take the opportunity to meet with Tax Administration staff to present information that may change their property’s assessed value before taking the step of filing a formal appeal with the Board of Equalization and Review. Informal appeals are available through Monday, April 29 and hearings of the Board of Equalization and Review will take place between April 29 and June 3. For more information about the revaluation process visit www.granvillecounty.org/reval, call 919-693-4181, or email reval.2024@granvillecounty.org.

Planning Director Barry Baker presented an application for rezoning of several parcels of land on NC Highway 56 near the intersection of NC Highway 96 in the Wilton community by Gatekeeper Investments, LLC. The property is currently zoned as Agricultural Residential, and the applicant requested a rezoning to the designation of Neighborhood Business. The Granville County Planning Board recommended the rezoning unanimously at their February 2024 meeting and it was approved on March 18 by the Board of Commissioners.

Commissioner Tony Cozart presented a proclamation in recognition of National Fair Housing Month to Penny Alford Rogers of Northern Point Realty of Oxford. Fair Housing Month recognizes the 1968 Fair Housing Act, which sought to end racial segregation and housing discrimination in the United States. The proclamation affirms Granville County’s commitment to ensuring that all citizens of the county have equal access to housing opportunities.

Chair Timothy Karan presented a proclamation in recognition of Small Farms Week to Laura Gabel of the Granville County Cooperative Extension Advisory Leadership Council. The proclamation recognizes Granville County’s agricultural heritage and notes the contributions of North Carolina State University and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University for their research and support of local farmers extension offices like the one in Granville County. Small farmers work with researchers from these universities in a relationship of mutual support to ensure that agriculture remains profitable and sustainable for small farmers in North Carolina.

Other business conducted on March 18 included:

– Approving the purchase of five portable radios for the 911 Emergency Communications Department at a cost of $41,654.45. The cost will be fully reimbursed by 911 Board grant funding. The radios will serve as emergency back-ups to the 911 communications system.

– Approving a new part-time courthouse security job classification and pay rate of Specialized Court Officer to enhance security and safety measures at the Granville County Courthouse.

– Approving a bid from Blacksail Construction, LLC at a cost of $127,734 and a contingency amount of $10,000 for asphalt repairs at the Granville Athletic Park walking trail. Repairs are needed for the walking trails at the soccer fields loop and the baseball practice field loop.

– Reappointing Jimmy Crews (District 2) and appointing Harold Overby (District 4) to the Granville County Agricultural Advisory Board.

– Approving a renewal of LinkedIn Learning Online Training Subscription for twelve months at a cost of $13,125. This resource is available to anyone with a Granville County Library Card. Learn more at the Library System website. 

– Approving Budget Amendment #8 for fiscal year 2023-2024.

– Approving Tax Refunds, Releases, and Write-Offs for February 22, 2024, to March 6, 2024.

– Appointing Assistant Planning Director Carlton Thornton and Planner Angela Blount to serve as additional review officers for plats submitted to the Granville County Planning Office.

The next meeting of the Granville County Board of Commissioners will be Monday, April 1 at 7:00 p.m. at the Granville County Convention and Expo Center.

To stay informed about upcoming meetings of the Board of Commissioners, visit the Granville County website where you can sign up for the “Sunshine List” and follow the county on Facebook.

Granville County Appoints Joseph Stallings Economic Development Director

Posted March 18, 2024

Granville County has selected Joseph Stallings to serve as the next Economic Development Director. Stallings joins Granville County following thirteen years leading economic development efforts for the North Carolina Railroad Company, the Town of Garner in Wake County, NC and the Town of Benson in Johnston County, NC.

Stallings most recently served as the Director of Economic Development for the North Carolina Railroad Company in Raleigh. In his nearly two years with the NC Railroad, Stallings facilitated statewide and local economic development efforts in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina as well as municipal and county governments to recruit and expand existing industries in North Carolina. Stallings also oversaw the planning and implementation for the NC Railroad’s Build Ready Sites program, ensuring that locations along existing railroad infrastructure were ready to welcome new or expanding industries by reducing red-tape and development delays with local regulatory and permitting agencies. Stallings worked with partners across North Carolina to ensure that all areas with existing rail infrastructure were prepared to handle industry expansion. 

Before his time with the NC Railroad, Stallings served as the Economic Development Director for the Town of Garner from 2015-2022. In addition to managing all major economic development recruitment and expansion efforts, Stallings also oversaw Garner’s downtown development efforts and small business development program. He also oversaw the operations of the non-profit Garner Economic Development Corporation to ensure a like-minded approach with the non-profit board, the Town of Garner, and Wake County. Stallings developed Garner’s first economic development strategic plan and worked with local property owners to market developable land that could attract desirable employers to Garner resulting in the recruitment of the largest industrial investment in Garner’s history. Preceding his time in Garner, Stallings began his local government career as the Economic Development and Media Coordinator for the Town of Benson from 2011-2015. In Benson, he negotiated recruitment and retention incentive packages, led Benson’s media efforts, and implemented Benson’s Main Street North Carolina program. Stallings also ran local business development incentives programs including the town’s façade improvement grants and revolving loan funds for local business start-ups.

“I am excited and honored to have been selected as Granville County’s next Economic Development Director,” said Stallings. “Granville is an exciting place to continue my career and take the many lessons I have learned about smart and sustainable economic development on the local and statewide level. My time in rural and suburban but growing towns like Garner and Benson has prepared me for this role. I plan to work with local and regional partners to ensure that Granville County is positioned to compete as a preferred destination for top employers now and for decades to come. It’s an exciting opportunity to come to Granville in this moment and build off the work that has been happening here for so long.”

Stallings is a graduate of the Master of Public Administration program at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. He also received a bachelor’s degree in political science with a concentration in Town, City, and County Management with a minor in Regional Planning at Appalachian State. During his professional career, Stallings has continued to pursue professional development educational opportunities and has graduated from the Municipal and County Administration and Local Government Federal Credit Union Fellows program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Government. Stallings is also a graduate of the Rural Economic Development Institute at the North Carolina Rural Center in Raleigh and received certification from Oklahoma University Economic Development Institute. A native of Hickory, NC, Stallings currently resides in Garner with his wife Ashley and his son Liam.

Property Tax Revaluation FAQs

Posted February 22, 2024

Question: What is a revaluation?
Answer: A revaluation determines the assessed value of all properties in a county.

Question: Why is Granville County doing a revaluation?
Answer: Revaluations are required by the State of North Carolina at a minimum of every 8 years. This is done to ensure that all tax values are more or less aligned with their value on the open real estate market.

Question: Why is the revaluation happening after 6 years instead of 8?
Answer: Granville County last completed a revaluation in 2018 but the dramatic changes in property values that began in 2020 created a situation where the vast majority of property sales transactions no longer had any relation to their assessed value. The North Carolina Department of Revenue urged Granville County to take immediate action and complete a revaluation as soon as possible. Waiting an additional 2 years would likely have led to even more dramatic increases in tax value.

Question: Why did my assessed value change so much?
Answer: Though less volatile than it was from 2020 to 2022, property values continue to rise in Granville County to levels never seen before. Recent data shows that average sales price
for all homes in Granville County has increased by 27% since 2021 alone.

Question: What about new homes? Why did their value change so much?
Answer: When new homes are built, their assessed value is set by the formula used during the most recent revaluation. For example, a new home built and sold in January 2023 would be assessed as if it existed in 2018 (the last revaluation). This could lead to a dramatic change in assessed value during the 2024 revaluation as the tax assessor adjusts the property to the 2024 market value instead of 2018.

Question: I think my assessed value is wrong. What do I do now?
Answer: Visit www.granvillecounty.org/reval and read the information on this page. You may also search for your home in the Comparable Sales Search tool to gain additional context on how your property compares to similar ones that have sold in recent years.

Question: I checked the Comparable Sales Tool and still think my assessed value is wrong. Now what?
Answer: You can file an appeal with the Granville County Tax Administration Office as soon as you receive your assessment notice until the first Board of Equalization and Review (E&R) hearing scheduled for April 29, 2024. Property owners will be able to meet with staff one-on-one to present additional data to support their appeal. For example, assessors do not go inside properties and rely on building permits and other public data to assess property values as well information they can gain about a property from the road or satellite view in the county GIS system. Property owners may have additional information about the condition of their property that can be provided to the assessor to adjust the value.

Question: I appealed to the Tax Assessor and disagree with their decision. Now what do I do?
Answer: If you disagree with the Tax Assessor’s decision, you can appeal to the Board of E&R. These appeal hearings will begin on April 29, 2024, and continue into June. The property owner can present evidence to the Board of E&R who can overrule the Tax Assessor’s decision if the evidence satisfies NC General Statute requirements. The Granville County Board of Commissioners also serves as the Board of E&R.

Question: I disagree with the Board of E&R decision. Now what?
Answer: The final appeal that property owners can make is to the North Carolina Property Tax Commission. This commission may override the previous decisions made by the Board of E&R and the Tax Assessor if they determine that the property has satisfied legal requirements for a successful appeal. A decision issued by the Property Tax Commission can only be appealed through an action filed with the North Carolina Court of Appeals or the North Carolina Supreme Court.

Question: Now I know my assessed value, but what does that mean for my tax bill?
Answer: This will be decided during the Board of Commissioners annual budget process, which begins in February with a 2-day retreat and ends in June with the approval of the new fiscal year budget. The Granville County fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30.

Question: Will the tax rate change? If so, how much?
Answer: Based on the dramatic increase in assessed value in Granville County, and in all other counties that are conducting revaluations this year or in recent years, the tax rate will likely decrease dramatically. This will be decided no later than June 30 during the approval of the annual budget.

Question: What is a revenue neutral tax rate?
Answer: As part of the revaluation process, the Budget Officer must identify a “revenue neutral tax rate.” This is the tax rate that would produce the same amount of revenue for Granville County as the previous year, after adjusting to natural changes in population.

Question: Will the county adopt a revenue neutral tax rate?
Answer: The final tax rate will be decided at the conclusion of the budget process once the Board of Commissioners has been able to fully evaluate the needs of all departments and other entities like the Granville County Public School System. The new tax rate is likely to be much closer to the revenue-neutral rate than to the current rate.

Question: What else do I need to know about my next tax bill?
Answer: The final tax bill is calculated differently depending on where you live. All Granville County property owners pay the County Tax Rate. Those who live inside the city limits of Butner, Creedmoor, Oxford, Stem, and Stovall also pay taxes to their municipalities as determined by each of their governing bodies. Those who live outside of a municipality in “unincorporated” Granville County OR in the Town of Stovall also pay a Fire District Tax, which can only be used to fund fire service protection. All three tax rates (county, fire district, and municipal) will be determined no later than June 30.

Question: I am on a fixed income. Are there any assistance programs available?
Answer: The State of North Carolina offers three tax relief or deferment programs for seniors and disabled veterans. More information is available on the Granville County website: https://www.granvillecounty.org/government/tax-department/assessment-and-listing/property-tax-relief/ or by calling 919-693-4181.

Question: I still have questions. Who do I talk to?
Answer: The Granville County Tax Administration Office can be reached at 919-693-4181 or reval.2024@granvillecounty.org. You can also visit www.granvillecounty.org/reval for more information.

March 5, 2024 Election Day Information & Results

Posted March 4, 2024

March 5 Election Results may be Later than Usual

Posted February 28, 2024

As a result of recent changes in state law, in-person early voting results will be reported later than usual on election night for the 2024 primary. This, in turn, may cause Election Day results to be reported later as well.

Previously, county boards of elections could tabulate early voting results before the close of polls, then report those results almost immediately at 7:30 p.m. on election night. Under changes made in Session Law 2023-140, Section 29, county boards must wait until 7:30 p.m. to “close the polls” on early voting tabulators and begin the process of counting and reporting results of ballots cast during the early voting period.

This process will take an estimated 30 to 60 minutes – and possibly longer in some counties – before unofficial early voting results can be posted publicly on the State Board of Elections’ Election Results Dashboard.

Because the March 5 primary will be the first election held under the new law, election officials do not know exactly how long it will delay the reporting of results. State Board staff will monitor the situation throughout election night and assist county boards of elections if necessary.

“Those who watch election results in North Carolina have come to expect a large chunk of results very soon after polls close,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “That will not happen this year, although the State Board and county boards of elections remain committed to providing unofficial results as quickly as possible. We ask for patience from voters and candidates as election officials comply with changes to election laws that affect election night processes.”

Unlike early voting results, absentee-by-mail results can be tabulated before the polls close under state law. Those absentee results will likely be the first to appear publicly for any given county when the polls close. They will include all absentee ballots returned to the county boards of elections before Election Day. Under state law, ballots returned on Election Day are approved and added to the vote totals during the 10-day period after Election Day known as the “canvass.”

Another law change in Session Law 2023-140, Section 35, requires absentee ballots to be returned to the voter’s county board of elections no later than 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Previously, a ballot that was put in the mail by Election Day and properly postmarked could be counted if it arrived by the third day after Election Day. That grace period no longer exists. Now, absentee voters should place their ballot in the mail with sufficient time for it to arrive at the county board of elections by Election Day.

The election is far from over on election night. Election night marks the beginning of the statutorily required vote-counting and auditing processes after every election, called “canvass.” Canvass is the process of ensuring votes have been counted correctly and required audits have been completed, culminating in the certification of results during meetings of every county board of elections.

By law, these canvass meetings will be held by each county board of elections at 11 a.m. Friday, March 15. The State Board will meet at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 26, to finalize primary results. (Canvassing votes. N.C.G.S. § 163-182.5)

Ballots that will be counted and reported publicly by the end of election night include:

– All votes cast by voters during the in-person early voting period, excluding provisional ballots, which must be researched by county boards of elections after the election to determine voter eligibility.

– All absentee-by-mail ballots received by the county boards of elections before Election Day.

– All Election Day votes, excluding provisional ballots, which must be researched.

Ballots that will not be counted and added to unofficial results on election night, but instead will be considered during the canvass period, include:

– By-mail absentee ballots that are received by county boards of elections by on Election Day.

– Overseas and military absentee ballots that arrive by mail to the county board of elections by 5 p.m. March 14.

– All provisional ballots, which must be researched after the election to determine voter eligibility. For more, see Provisional Voting.

County boards of elections will add any eligible ballots from these categories to the results during the post-election canvass period.

For more details on election night reporting in North Carolina, see Election Night Reporting Timeline.

Tourism Mini-Grant Call for Applications

Posted February 28, 2024

The Granville Tourism Development Authority (TDA) is seeking qualified grant applicants for the 2024 mini-grant program.

The Granville TDA’s mini-grant program seeks to assist Granville County organizations and agencies in the promotion and marketing of events and activities that encourage tourism and create an economic impact. Funded projects should create visitor spending with a goal of helping stimulate events/activities that can grow and eventually thrive on their own merit, without direct funding. Any approved funding should be considered as a supplemental resource only.

Eligible organizations include Granville County-based community groups, nonprofit organizations, and municipalities or recognized communities located within Granville County. For-profit groups cannot apply for grant funding unless the event’s revenue will benefit a community-supported organization.

Priority will be given to projects that encourage out-of-county visitors, with primary consideration given to those that promote the Granville TDA’s mission of marketing the area as a travel destination. The tourism industry’s definition of a “visitor” is an individual trekking outside of 50 miles to attend an event or activity. Events planned for off-peak times may receive higher priority.

Total funding of any event, project or program will not be greater than 25 percent of the total project budget and will not exceed $5,000. Included with the request can be a one-time artist/entertainment allowance of up to $1,000.

Grant applications will be accepted until May 1, 2024, for inclusion in the upcoming fiscal year budget (July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025). The Granville TDA Board of Directors will review applications and make recommendations for approval during their June board meeting. Award recipients will be notified after July 1, 2024, when the new fiscal year begins.

Applications are available online or through the Granville County Tourism Development office located at 124 Hillsboro Street in Oxford. Those interested may also contact Angela Allen, Tourism Director, at (919) 693-6125 or angela.allen@granvillecounty.org.

Draft Granville County Trail Study

This study examines the feasibility of a greenway trail connecting Downtown Oxford to the Virginia state line as part of the East Coast Greenway. The project team has identified three potential trail alignments and is asking for public input on identifying the best alternative. Thank you in advance for your time spent reviewing the document!

Read the full draft study at this link.

Please send comments or questions to lucylaird@altago.com by April 15. 

The project team will also be available to answer questions in person at an Open House from 5:30-7 pm on March 27 at the Orange St. Community Center in Oxford. We hope to see you there!

9th Annual Veterans Appreciation Event

Posted February 26, 2024

For the 9^th consecutive year, Granville County veterans are invited to a free afternoon of information, entertainment, and refreshments courtesy of the Granville County Veterans Affairs Committee.

On Saturday, March 9 at 1 p.m. the doors of the Granville County Convention and Expo Center will open for the program “I Am the American Flag”, with guest speaker Mark Pace, local historian and North Carolina Room Specialist at the Richard H. Thornton Library.  Attendees will learn things about the flag that will surprise, inspire, and make you think.  Early arrivals will have the opportunity to browse information and resources from veteran-related groups and organizations.  The 2 p.m. program will also feature JROTC cadets from J. F. Webb and Granville Southern high schools and a pinning ceremony and recognition of each of the armed forces followed by a tasty meal.

Come spend the afternoon with fellow vets to learn, share, and be recognized.  It’s the Veterans Affairs Committee’s way to say a sincere “Thank You for Your Service.”

For more information, contact Lyn Breisacher at 919-339-8352 or the Granville County Veterans Service Office at 919-693-1484.

Absentee Ballot Deadline – Tuesday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Posted February 20, 2024

Reminder from the Granville County Board of Elections!

The deadline to return absentee ballots for the upcoming primary and Board of Education election is Tuesday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. Only ballots received by this deadline are valid. Please remember this is the deadline for the county board of elections to RECEIVE your ballot and not the deadline to mail them.

For more information about absentee voting, please visit the NC State Board of Elections website: https://www.ncsbe.gov/voting/vote-mail