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Sales Tax Referendum
What Is This About?
Wayne County voters will see a question on the March 3, 2026 election ballot. The question asks whether the county should add a small sales tax called a local option sales tax.
The tax would be one-quarter of one cent (0.25%), which means sales tax would change from 6.75% to 7.00%.
For example, on a $1 purchase, the price wouldn't change. A $5 purchase would increase by 1 cent. A $100 purchase would increase by 25 cents.
Only voters can decide whether this tax happens.
Sales Tax Impact Calculator
See how the proposed sales tax change compares to today’s rate
Enter a purchase amount to compare the current sales tax rate (6.75%) with the proposed rate (7.00%).
Purchase amount: —
Current tax total (6.75%): —
Proposed tax total (7.00%): —
Difference: —
On a purchase of —, the difference is —.
This small increase would provide Wayne County with approximately $3.41 million annually to support School Resource Officers and school facility needs.
How Could the Money Be Used?
If voters approve the tax, the Board of Commissioners has said the money would be used to:
- Fund additional School Resource Officers (SROs) in Wayne County Public Schools
- Fund school capital (building and facility) projects identified by the Board of Education
What Would the Tax Do?
If voters approve the tax, it is estimated to bring in about $3.41 million each year for Wayne County.
By law, this tax would not apply to:
- Groceries bought to prepare at home
- Gasoline
- Prescription medicines
What Is a Sales Tax?
A sales tax is added when people buy certain items in a store. Sales tax is paid by:
- People who live in Wayne County
- People visiting Wayne County
- People traveling through Wayne County who make purchases
This is different from property tax, which is only paid by people who own property, like a house or land.
Ballot Question
Per N.C. General Statute, the question will appear on the ballot as follows:
[ ] FOR [ ] AGAINST
Local sales and use tax at the rate of one-quarter percent (0.25%)
in addition to all other State and local sales and use taxes.
Key Facts
- Who decides: Wayne County voters.
- When: March 3, 2026 Primary Election.
- Estimated annual revenue: approximately $3.41 million.
- Tax rate change: from 6.75% to 7.00% total sales tax in Wayne County.
- Exemptions: Groceries (non-prepared foods), gasoline, and prescription medications are not taxed under this local option.
Did You Know?
Because sales tax is calculated in cents, stores cannot charge part of a penny.
When the current 6.75% sales tax is calculated, the total is often rounded to the nearest cent. In some cases, that rounded amount is the same as what a 7.00% sales tax would be.
Example:
- A $1.00 purchase
- 6.75% sales tax = $0.0675 → rounds to $0.07
- 7.00% sales tax = $0.07
In this example, the final tax charged looks the same because of rounding.