Leland officials continue to work on a draft of an inaugural economic development incentive program. The main goal of the plan, in the works since 2023, is to “attract, start up and retain businesses that will provide quality local jobs,” according to an intro to the draft by Barnes Sutton, the town’s economic and community development director. ...

County officials approved a budget with a property tax rate of 30.6 cents per $100 of value Thursday night, eliminating nearly 100 jobs. New Hanover County Board of Commissioners chairman Bill Rivenbark and commissioners Dane Scalise and LeAnn Pierce, all Republicans, voted in favor of the spending plan, while the Democrats on the board, commissioners Rob Zapple and Ste ...

Editor's Note: In a 3-2 vote after publication time, the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners voted Thursday evening to adopt the 30.6-cent budget that cuts 70 employees and 29 vacant positions. Republican commissioners LeAnn Pierce, Bill Rivenbark and Dane Scalise voted in favor of the budget while Democrats Stephanie Walker and Rob Zapple voted against it. Read ...

Wilmington leaders adopted a first reading of the city’s budget on Tuesday, which includes thousands of dollars in funding for local economic development initiatives and incentives.  The budget, which totals over $306 million, was adopted through a series of ordinances by the Wilmington City Council on Tuesday. It will come before the council for a second rea ...

Additional funding is expected to help push plans for the first phase of the Downtown Trail forward, following a pause. The Wilmington City Council unanimously approved appropriating $431,200 in funds from the N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and entering into an agreement with NCDOT for the design of the trail’s first phase on Tuesday night. The Downt ...

Wilmington officials offered an update Monday on efforts outlined in the city’s Urban Forestry Master Plan. Adopted by city leaders in 2023, the plan aims to help protect and enhance trees growing inside Wilmington’s city limits. The plan identified 11 recommendations along with action items, which are in progress, Sally Thigpen, assistant director of the ci ...

Wilmington officials have chosen the next city manager, who will replace current city manager Tony Caudle when he retires at the end of this month. The Wilmington City Council unanimously voted Tuesday night to appoint Becky Hawke as the next city manager. Hawke’s appointment concludes a national search for the city’s next top administrator, which began last ...

New Hanover County commissioners want the county's staff to crunch their numbers again after hearing a recommended tax rate for the next fiscal year’s budget on Monday. The $488.5 million New Hanover County budget presented to commissioners Monday morning as a recommendation includes a 10-cent property tax rate cut, from the current 45 cents to 35 cents. Becau ...

As a New Hanover County Commissioner, I understand the desire to offer tax relief – especially after a property revaluation. On average, home values in our county increased 63%, and the rise was even higher in some beach areas. This isn’t abstract to me – it’s something I’m experiencing personally as well. However, a race to the lowest poss ...

During months of public input on the city of Wilmington’s Greater Downtown Plan, several issues have emerged as top priorities for the community. Travis Henley, the city’s comprehensive planning manager, provided an overview of that input and the next steps for the plan during a presentation to the Wilmington City Council on Monday. The Greater Downtown Plan ...