County border lines to be re-evaluated Implications for resident tax rates BY ANDREW DUNN ‘MEBANE — On the outskirts of town, noighborhoods turn to farmland and the boundary between Orange and Alamance ‘eouties all bot asappenrs AS development continues to expand through the area, the ecu tes now wile furmall declaring theborder through astategeograph- eal informacion system strvet Orange County Taxassessor Jolin ‘maith saldhe hopesto hayetie new Ine established by January. For the people who ewn the about 35 parcels crossing the boundary line, he re-2valuation could mean significant — and, sometimes unpleasant — changes. ‘Right now there are three lines that divide the countles: the line ‘Alamance County favors, the one ‘Orange County fivorsandalinecre= ated bythe US, Geological Survey. Because of the diserepancles, the counties must tax properties that cross the lines based on hie tory ora spectal agreement. Carol MeCormick, whe lives on ‘Morrovr Mili Road, sald her land was surveyed in 1849 and has been passed down In her family for generations, “Though she pass taxes in Orange County, she said that accorsing to Mebane farmer Claude tynch inspects his haytel. The undecided line between Crange and Alamance counties winds somewhere through it the geological line, her and should be almost entirely in Alamance, “The welecme to Orsnge County signs have no basis in vesliy’ she sald. ‘The deed, McCormick sald sets the land’s boundaries based partly ‘on the position ofa Richard Jones County tax rates orange county > Baca of $095 per $100 af propery valve > $1.45 fr county plus Mebane diy x ‘Alamance County >» Bas of $058 pe $100 of property velue > $1.08 for county plus Mebane diy tx bam, ablrel bush, bends Cane (Creek andl a gum sapling. ‘Though the confusion often leaves her soads uncleared after suowialls, McCormick sald her main concera with the changing Dorris whether ber cldren will, be taken out ofthe Hilsborcugh- based sekls they attend ‘But for other landowners who ‘vl begin to pay Alamance taxes, the change could be financtally sweet. Orange County property wes aehigherthan in Alamance County “Iffmore of my land vould fall SEE BORDER, PAGE 7BORDER ‘nto Alamance, 1 be grateful” hay farmer Claude Lynch said. He sald he owns about 250 ‘acres in Alamance and about 6s in. ‘orange. The line winds somewhere ‘through his hay fel, eastly acces- sible only by all-terrain vehicle. Is now marked by a small flag attached toa worn, wooden post. ‘Tax assessor data says he owas ‘249.87 acres in Alamance with a total market value of $696,913, ‘including his house. Tn Orange, he owns 269. acres worth $739,449.40, according to tax data, ‘Smith said that differences between where the two countles ‘think the Iines are ean cause such discrepancies but that he doesn't think anyone has been double billed. Tfpeople think they are, Smith sald they should tell Smith imme- diately. ‘Anyone who feels slighted by the ‘changes will have recourse. The line ‘determined by the NC. Geodetle ‘Survey s not immediately binding. ‘The board of commissioners in both Orange and Alamance coun- ‘los must approve it, Smith sald. "The appeal method has nt yet Deen formulated. ‘Such an appeals process was last offered 25 to 90 years ago, Smith sid, so nobody has hadany expert- ‘ence wih k. “Bat theyllwant to be as far as thoy can be” he sel. Chatham County went through the boundary setdement pro- cess with Orange County a few Years ago. After the survey, ANC. Goneral Assembly bill oficial set theboundary based on lattinde and longitude ordinates. “With information getting more precke, we wanted to pick up the property actually in Chatham County? sald Mary Phillips, othe ‘Chatham County mapping depart mont “Itsmadoitmore stralghtfor- ‘ward over whohas jrtstttion” Chatham County sent eters 10 Aus residents near the border as the process reached an end. Phillips ald that she ge calls asting hor to explain what was happening, but that she didnt hear any complaints. But Lynch sald he would bo wary of Orange County exereising more control over his land after the revision. He sald he worrles about what might happen to ¢wo Old homes on hisiand, one baile in 1826, the other in 187. ‘And some residents just want things le the way they are. "The boundary line passesstraight throngh a stand of pine trees in unm Thompsons from: yard. ‘Most of his land isin Alamncs, Whe sults him justine. “Alamance is pretty bad but the taxes aren't as high” Thompson sald.“T hope theyleave it alone” Contact the City Editor ai citydesk@uncedu.