County's tax burden among N.C.'s lowest

Alleghany County enjoys one of the lower tax burdens in the state, according to a report released last month.

The report by the John Locke Foundation of Raleigh listed Alleghany with taxes and fees, including county and municipal revenues, accounting for 3.28 percent of personal income in 2001. The statewide median among counties was 4.04 percent. The county's tax burden was thus ranked 81st among the state's 100 counties. The ranking was a drop of one notch from the previous year, when the percentage was 3.39. For 1999, Alleghany ranked 76th, with 3.54 percent.

In combined (county and municipal) taxes and fees per person, Alleghany ranked 65th, with $834.33. That was a drop from 55th in 2000 ($863.99), compared to 60th in 1999 ($871.87).

Alleghany's population was listed at 10,736, with a per capita income of $25,413.

In taxes and fees as a percent of income, Dare County was ranked first at 11.11 percent. At the bottom was Alexander County with 2.57 percent. Alleghany ranked 44th in county revenue as a share of income (2.79 percent), 24th in county revenue per capita ($707.89), 39th in property tax as a share of income (1.70 percent), 26th in property tax per capita ($433.06), 62nd in sales tax as a share of income (0.55 percent) and 45th in sales tax per capita ($139.49).

Sparta's Rankings

Among municipalities ranging from 1,000 to 4,999 in population, Sparta (the county's only municipality) placed near the middle in local revenues, combined county and municipal, per capita. The report ranked Sparta 88th among the 198 towns in that size range for 2001, with $1,046.52 combined revenues per capita. The town was ranked 76th in 2000.

Sparta ranked number 110 in property tax burden per capita with $550.26, compared to 99th in 2000. In sales tax burden per capita, the town was 41st ($303.27), a drop from 39th the previous year. Sparta's 2001 population was listed as 1,824.

Local Officials Comment

County Manager Don Adams said Alleghany's low tax burden is not new but has been part of an ongoing effort. "Ever since I've been here and before, the Alleghany County Commissioners have strived to keep the tax burden as low as possible on its citizens, and I don't see any reason why it won't continue."

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