Commissioners Discuss Wake/Franklin County Line
1/14/2008
Wake County Board of Commissioners today received information from staff and provided feedback on the location of the Wake/Franklin County Line during its work session in the ground floor conference center of the Waverly F. Akins Wake County Office Building.
Residents and property owners who may be impacted are encouraged to participate in the ongoing discussion between the leadership of Wake and Franklin Counties. A public meeting has been planned for property owners who live in the area. The public meeting will be Tuesday, February 12, 2008, from 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Youngsville Elementary School, 125 Highway 1-A, Youngsville.
Answers to frequently asked questions, maps and other information about the process are available online at www.wakegov.com/gis/countyline. Citizens with further questions may contact either the Franklin County Tax Department or Wake County Geographic Information Services.
Jim Wrenn
Franklin Co. Tax Department
(919) 496-2172
215 E. Nash Street
Louisburg, NC 27549
www.franklincountync.us
Charles Friddle
Wake Co. Geographic Information Services
(919) 856-6375
337 S. Salisbury Street, 5th Floor
Raleigh, NC 27601
www.wakegov.com
"We realize that this may be a difficult transition for some Wake and Franklin County citizens," said Scott Warren, Wake County Attorney. "It’s important to address this now to prevent more issues like what has happened in Richland Hills, where the parcels were platted in the incorrect county."
Citizens who may be impacted by possible changes to the Wake/Franklin County Line will be notified via U.S. Mail. Letters are slated to be mailed by January 22, 2008.
A joint meeting of the Wake County Board of Commissioners and the Franklin County Board of Commissioners is planned. A date, time and location will be announced soon.
"This is an important issue," said Charles Friddle, Wake County Geographic Information Services Director. "Precisely locating the county line will allow both Wake and Franklin County and the Town of Wake Forest governments to address issues with development and clarify delivery of services along the line."
Adopted changes are tentatively scheduled to go into effect in July 2008. Many County services will be affected. A few are listed here:
- Recorded Deeds: Wake and Franklin Counties will have a certified copy of changes to deeds recorded in the Register of Deeds office of the new county, along with a notation as to why the new filing occurred. This filing will not require any action on the part of the property owner.
- Property Taxes: The assessed value of each property will change, as will the tax rate. The property tax rate in Franklin County is currently $.8225 per one hundred dollars of value. The property tax rate in Wake is $.678 per one hundred dollars of value. Wake County Commissioners will consider a change in tax rate in conjunction with the property revaluation process.
- Zoning: Property will be zoned consistent with neighboring properties in the new county pending approval from the respective Planning Boards and County Commissioners. Zoning is an open process involving public hearings, formal notifications to property owners, publications in newspapers and signs posted on affected areas.
- Public Safety: Wake and Franklin Counties will work closely with Raleigh/Wake Communication Center, Franklin County 911, and the Town of Wake Forest to ensure each affected property is keyed into the appropriate 911 database. There will be no disruption of service and residents will continue to dial 911 in case of an emergency.
- Board of Elections: The Wake County and Franklin County Boards of Elections will work together to notify all registered voters whose voter registrations may be affected by the changes in property assessments. Pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 163-82.15(a), these voter registrations will be changed to the appropriate county.
- School System: Assignment to a school system is based on the county where a house is assessed. If the assessment of a house changes county, then the school system assignment also changes. Residents will need to contact the new school system to enroll their child(ren). However, consideration may be given to remain in the current school system.
Wake and Franklin Counties have worked with the North Carolina Geodetic Survey to locate the county line. Doing so will allow both county governments to address issues with development and clarify delivery of services along the line.
More information and answers to frequently asked questions is available online at www.wakegov.com/gis/countyline.
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