KINSTON, N.C. (WITN) - It’s been nearly five months since the City of Kinston approved a property tax rate of 73 cents, a 4-cent difference from the 77 cents it was before.

That rate remains above the city’s revenue-neutral rate of 60 cents, which is what it would have needed to be in order for property owners to pay the same amount they did in property taxes last year.

Residents voiced their disappointment during Monday night’s public comment, some telling WITN that it’s their third or fourth meeting in a row voicing the same concerns.

“Our tax bill, we are experiencing a thousand-dollar increase,” Melissa Paderick said. “I mean, everybody in town is talking about it. It’s just unfair, and an undue burden that we feel like they have a responsibility to try and do something about it.”

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