A primary motivation for María to run for County Commissioner in this 2026 election is the history of racially biased property tax valuations in our county.
Property tax valuations in Orange County, NC, have caused significant inequity, particularly during the 2021 and 2025 cycles, by strikingly overvaluing homes in historically Black neighborhoods. This systemic bias places a disproportionate financial burden on long-term, lower-income residents, forcing many to leave properties their families have owned for generations in Orange County.
Here are three key details regarding this inequity:
- In 2021, over $10 million in overvaluation occurred in primarily Black neighborhoods.
- The Orange County Property Tax Justice Coalition, organized by the Marian Cheek Jackson Center and Justice United, successfully secured over $500,000 in savings for residents through appeals in 2021, yet the inequity has been repeated in the most recent revaluation process (2025).
- In both 2021 and 2025 properties of longtime residents were valued higher than similar nearby properties where luxury buildings have been constructed.
The Orange County Board of Commissioners is the body directly responsible for overseeing the revaluation process. While they have recently established a Tax Assessment Work Group to study the problem, eight years of inequity is inexcusable. If we want to eliminate this inequity, we need to elect commissioners who will make this issue their top priority and hold the tax office accountable for fair and equitable practices.
To hear María’s comments on this issue at a recent candidate forum, see the related post, “County Commissioner Candidate Forum.”
