June 3. By Dave Vieser. It’s official. There will be no tax town tax increase next year in Cornelius. At Monday evenings town board meeting, the commissioners unanimously approved the proposed $39.4 million 2026 Cornelius town budget.

The town tax rate will remain flat at 17.31 cents per $100 valuation. That amounts to approximately $865 in annual town taxes for a Cornelius home assessed at $500,000.

To achieve the tax freeze budget Town Manager Andrew Grant had to hold back on funding some projects.

Town Manager Andrew Grant

—$98,000 in recurring expenses which included a reduction in licensing for software not in use, as well as lower utility and postage costs.

—$3 million in operating goals and capital items for the FY26 budget deferred to a future year.

Personnel expenditures are expected to increase by 9.7 percent in total over FY25 estimated year-end.

The only speaker at Mondays budget hearing, David Judge of Cornelius, suggested that the board defer a vote to the next meeting so they could try to find funds for some of the deferred items.

However, Grant explained that the town was prepared to seek funds for some of these initiatives, possibly through grants.

With that, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve the spending plan which goes into effect July 1.

County taxes

While the town tax rate will remain the same, a small increase is expected in the county tax rate. County commissioners will be voting on their 2026 budget this evening, which, if approved, will increase taxes by approximately $48 next year on a home in Cornelius assessed at $500,000.

The total property tax on a $500,000 home would be $3,328.50 if the proposed county​ budget is approved.