It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Historic Occoneechee Speedway gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Orange, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Looking for a placement is always difficult for a family. Contacting Sandy to help was”
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“Looking for a placement is always difficult for a family. Contacting Sandy to help was the best option. She was familiar with all assisted living/memory care facilities around town and was quick to respond to the family with tours. She delivered FL2 forms to physician's and made the transition an easy process. I recommend Sandy 100 % for any family needing a smaller community for their elderly family member.”
“I have been working for ABC for two years now, and I am very grateful for my position. The staff are acceptable, the clients are lovely, and the environments are professional. I highly recommend PCAs and CNAs to apply.”
“Such a wonderful place to work! Caregivers that genuinely care with office support that go above and beyond for staff/clients. Highly recommend for employment and senior in-home care support.”
“I bn with this company for Abt a year and I love working for them . They work with you,they care about ur personal life/ problems, really good at matching you with good clients..”
“I cannot say enough good things about this company and the caregivers they provided after my mom's recent accident and stay in a rehab facility. The staff were constantly in communication with us keeping us abreast of any little or big updates. Their attitudes were always helpful and they seemed to genuinely care. The caregivers they sent to sit with and take care of mom were EXCELLENT. I'm not sure how many different caregivers she had over the few weeks of her stay but there wasn't a single one that wasn't kind and extremely helpful. It took a tremendous load off of everyone in our family knowing that she was being well cared for when we couldn't be there. Thank you to Brandi, Joanne, Gina, and anyone I'm missing for everything you all did for us from the beginning of the process all the way to my mom's release today. Hopefully, we won't need your services again, but if we do, I know who I will be calling!”
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“Sandy is very knowledgeable of assisted living options in the Winston Salem area. She helped with a family member’s search with care and consideration. We highly recommend.”
“I highly recommend Sandy Bowen with Always Best Care. I called her with a very tight timeframe to find a suitable memory care facility for my family member. She asked a lot of questions about my loved one to try and get to know her as much as possible. She worked very fast and lined up several appointments for us to tour places within a matter of days. She explained the process to me every step of the way and made sure we stayed on track. She attended the appointments with me and asked questions that I would never think to ask. I can’t thank her enough.”
“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home care for themselves or loved ones”
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“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home care for themselves or loved ones”
“During an unexpected hospital stay, Joanne provided much needed assistance. She provided excellent care and supportive advocacy. It made dealing with the discomfort more bearable and gave me a safeguard to decipher the complicated choices to resolve health issues. I highly recommend this service.”
“If you are looking for attentive, quality home care look no further than Joanne and her team. A passion for excellence is driven for from this team. Family oriented and willing to work with all families.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Eisenhower Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local The Hobbit or visit James Madison Museum of Orange County Heritage, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Orange, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Orange, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Orange, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Orange County homeowners could soon see higher tax rates as property values increase by around 50 percent, according to Orange County tax administration officials.Revaluation is a process that reassesses properties to reflect their current market value. Counties must conduct a tax revaluation every 8 years in compliance with state law. Orange County follows a four-year cycle with the most recent evaluation being Jan. 1.There was a 52 percent increase in property value in Orange County, which reflects the average price that prop...
Orange County homeowners could soon see higher tax rates as property values increase by around 50 percent, according to Orange County tax administration officials.
Revaluation is a process that reassesses properties to reflect their current market value. Counties must conduct a tax revaluation every 8 years in compliance with state law. Orange County follows a four-year cycle with the most recent evaluation being Jan. 1.
There was a 52 percent increase in property value in Orange County, which reflects the average price that properties sold for on the market, according to Orange County Tax Administration Director Nancy Freeman.
Freeman said evaluations of a residential property are based on market cost, income and recent sales. Municipalities use these updated values to determine the tax rate necessary to collect revenue to fund the county and towns, Freeman said.
In light of funding cuts at the federal and state level, local governments have more responsibility to provide for their constituents, according to the NC Budget & Tax Center.
“We are trying to prepare people to realize that there probably will be an increase in taxes,” Freeman said. “And that is a concern for some of our residents or some of our property owners that are struggling, especially those on a limited income.”
Freeman said that the primary goal of the revaluation process is to redistribute the tax base so that it is fairly distributed between properties according to their value.
Property taxes are the primary source of revenue for local governments, according to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.
“Since property ownership remains relatively steady and tax bills are collected annually, it creates a predictable revenue stream that helps fund all the essential public services, like schools, roads and emergency services,” Orange County Tax Administration Business Officer Leslie Wilcox said.
GOVERNMENTCorrespondentThe North Carolina Budget and Tax Center recently released its economic snapshot for each of the state’s 100 counties. The Orange County snapshot reveals many fascinating details about the area’s economic health, which includes Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough, among other communities, as well as areas of potential growth....
GOVERNMENT
Correspondent
The North Carolina Budget and Tax Center recently released its economic snapshot for each of the state’s 100 counties. The Orange County snapshot reveals many fascinating details about the area’s economic health, which includes Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough, among other communities, as well as areas of potential growth.
According to the data, Orange County currently has a population of approximately 154,000 residents, which marks an 11 percent increase since 2015, according to the documentation. That is a slight decrease compared to the overall growth of North Carolina, which experienced a population growth of 11 percent between 2015 and 2025.
Although Orange County is doing well in providing basic needs to its residents, only 7% of county residents do not have health insurance. At the same time, there is at least one mental health provider for every 130 residents, a significantly lower rate than much of the rest of North Carolina, who have 320 residents per mental health provider. However, the numbers indicate concerns regarding housing affordability, which is nothing new to county and municipal leaders, who have been striving to increase missing middle housing and add more affordable rental options for area residents over the past few years.
According to the NC Budget and Tax Center’s data, approximately 55% of all residents in Orange County are facing rental rates that are unaffordable for them, compared to 48% across the whole state. The percentage of Orange County residents paying 50% or more of their household income recently is just under one-third – 32% – compared to approximately 23% statewide. Fair market monthly rent for a two-bedroom home in Orange County is roughly $1,870 – well over $400 per month above the approximately $1,410 average monthly rent for similar homes across North Carolina.
According to the data, workers in Orange County earning minimum wage have to work approximately one-fourth more hours than their statewide peers to afford housing. It takes approximately 199 hours per week for residents in Orange County making minimum wage to afford a two-bedroom home at fair market rent, compared to approximately 150 hours per week for residents across North Carolina.
The good news for Orange County is that while rents are unaffordable for more than half its renting population, job growth has remained relatively strong. There are three candidates for every job opening in Orange County, and the number of unemployed residents actively seeking work increased by a modest 3% from December 2023 to December 2024. Approximately 2,300 of the 178,000 North Carolina residents who are unemployed and actively seeking work are based in Orange County.
Orange County’s unemployment rate as of December 2024 stood at approximately 2.7% of residents—lower than the 3.4% unemployment rate statewide. The county’s employed residents are approximately 81,600 of the more than 5 million employed residents statewide.
Despite relative job stability, Orange County has some noticeable income disparities compared to other parts of North Carolina. 24% of residents in Orange County are considered low income—an income of approximately $62,400 for a household of four people—while the wealthiest 5% of households make an average of 39 times more annually than the poorest 20% of households. The $62,500 figure is based on available income data over the past year for households, marking an amount at or below 200% of the poverty level.
Approximately 12% of Orange County’s residents live at or below the poverty level, compared to 13% across North Carolina. The percentage of children living in poverty in Orange County stands at 11%, compared to 18% across the entire state.
It’s no secret to those who live in and around Orange County that it is a highly educated area. The data shows that approximately 89% of Orange County’s residents hold at least a high school diploma, compared to 87% statewide. In addition, Orange County’s percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher stands at approximately 62%, compared to 35% across the entire state of North Carolina.
Approximately 59% of adult males have a college degree – compared to just 33% percent statewide – while nearly two-thirds of adult women- 64% – have college degrees compared to 36 percent of adult women statewide.
Along with its employment rates and rates of college-educated adults, Orange County is also faring better on average than its peer counties across North Carolina in terms of income living standard. The average annual income in Orange County is approximately $102,400 for a family with at least one adult and two children, compared to $87,700 across the entire state. Median worker earnings in Orange County from 2019 to 2023 are approximately $57,400 compared to the average of $47,200 statewide. Furthermore, Orange County’s median household income of roughly $88,600 is nearly $20,000 annually more than the statewide average of $69,900.
Despite the housing affordability concerns in Orange County, its residents are better insured, on average, than their peers around the state. Approximately 7% of all Orange County residents are uninsured, compared to 10% statewide. Approximately 13% of Orange County residents are enrolled in Medicaid – less than half the statewide average of 28%. The percentage of Orange County residents receiving SNAP benefits – approximately 6% – is also less than half the statewide average of 13%.
Orange County residents also have higher life expectancy outcomes than others across North Carolina, with the average Orange County resident expected to live to age 82, compared to an average of 77 across the state. African-American residents have an average life expectancy of 74 years, compared to 73 years across North Carolina, while caucasian residents have an average life expectancy in Orange County of 82 years, compared to 77 years statewide.
For more information about North Carolina’s and Orange County’s budget snapshots, residents can contact the NC Budget and Tax Center at [email protected].
Adam Powell has been a correspondent for The Local Reporter since 2023. A 2001 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Powell has served as managing editor of multiple local publications, including the News of Orange County, the Mebane Enterprise, the Caswell Messenger, and the ACC Sports Journal. Powell has won more than 20 North Carolina Press Association Awards throughout his journalism career for Excellence in Education Reporting, Excellence in Sports Columns and Features, and Excellence in Video Production. He has also been recognized by the North Carolina School Public Relations Association (NCSPRA) for Excellence in Education Writing and for his newsletters representing Rockingham County Schools and the North Carolina Cyber Academy. The author of four books. Adam currently resides in Mebane with his wife Julie and children Colt and Jenna. This reporter can be reached at:Information@TheLocal Reporter.press
3 minutesRising water levels are posing a risk to crops in the Lower Orange River region in the Northern Cape. Several roads and low-lying bridges have been closed as the water in the Orange River rises to levels last seen during the flood of 2011 in the area.Water released from the overflowing Vaal and Gariep dams into the Orange River system has contributed to the surging levels. Farmers in the Lower Orange river region say the rising water levels could threaten their vineyards. Some vineyards are under wat...
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Rising water levels are posing a risk to crops in the Lower Orange River region in the Northern Cape. Several roads and low-lying bridges have been closed as the water in the Orange River rises to levels last seen during the flood of 2011 in the area.
Water released from the overflowing Vaal and Gariep dams into the Orange River system has contributed to the surging levels.
Farmers in the Lower Orange river region say the rising water levels could threaten their vineyards. Some vineyards are under water as water released from the Vaal and Gariep dams reaches the Orange river. The flow at Augrabies falls were at 4200 cumecs yesterday. #SABCNews pic.twitter.com/RU1ec0joZJ
— Ulrich Hendriks (@UlrichHendriks) May 4, 2025
Johannes Louw, a concerned farmer in Upington, says the floods are already impacting lucerne production and could pose a threat to next year’s grape harvest if the situation worsens.
“Lucerne will drown. Lucerne will not survive, but the positive side is that the grapes have been harvested, so there are no losses for grapes. It can only be for next year if there are damages to the farm. The big concern is that the water can cross the road and the Kakamas will not be able to reach, and the water will damage the grapes inside when it is overflowing the canal.”
The rising water levels have caused panic amongst farmers, with some fearing the worst. Chairperson of Orange River Producers Association, Gabriel Viljoen says some fields are under water, and if the water remains in the field for two weeks, they will have to replant, which requires a lot of money.
“It has a big impact due to the water volumes which have risen over the past few days in the lower wineyards that is already covered in water. It is the same as you take oxygen from you. Wineyards get hurt. So after a period of two weeks the vines basically dies, then you have to replace them at a huge cost.”
Vice President of Agri Northern Cape, Wiaan Van Rensburg says if more water flows from the Orange river it can cause damage to infrastructure.
“If the water levels rise because of the flood walls that were not done correctly after the 2011 floods, the water can overflow into agricultural land and it can cause infrastructure problems, if that flood wall breaks and the wineyards can be washed away from the ground. That will be a much bigger problem. more like the 1998 floods, and we don’t want this water high water to go to that level.”
The flow on Sunday reached 4300 cubic meters per second. Typically, the flow ranges between 30 and 50 cubic meters per second.
Authorities are monitoring the situation closely as the potential for further agricultural damage and community disruption grows.
Her family has owned land just west of Chapel Hill for over 100 years, but this is the first time she’s seen the value triple, putting her at risk of being priced out, Sandra Theard told the Orange County Board of Commissioners.The value of one parcel — seven undeveloped acres on Rocky Ridge Road — jumped from $144,600 to $406,900 after the county’s recent revaluation, she said. Another 4.5 acres with a nearly 50-year-old cinderblock house on Union Grove Church Road was valued at $369,700 last year and is now w...
Her family has owned land just west of Chapel Hill for over 100 years, but this is the first time she’s seen the value triple, putting her at risk of being priced out, Sandra Theard told the Orange County Board of Commissioners.
The value of one parcel — seven undeveloped acres on Rocky Ridge Road — jumped from $144,600 to $406,900 after the county’s recent revaluation, she said. Another 4.5 acres with a nearly 50-year-old cinderblock house on Union Grove Church Road was valued at $369,700 last year and is now worth $604,800.
It’s too much for her to pay on a limited Social Security income, and the increase just doesn’t add up, said Theard, 69. She doesn’t want to sell, despite increasing pressure from investors, all of whom offer her less than the county says the land is worth, she said.
“I’m trying to pass it down [to my son and grandson]. This is the land that my father gave to me, and the one thing he stressed, ‘pay your taxes, even if your lights got to get cut off’,” Theard said. “I don’t want to be priced out or move, because I can’t afford to pay my taxes.”
Theard was among roughly 16 residents, many of them older adults, who asked the Orange County commissioners to delay this year’s revaluation or find cuts in next year’s budget.
“What the commissioners can do for the people who’ve lived here and want to continue to live here is to set a realistic budget that we can afford, that we and our children will not be paying for 30 years down the line,” said Ashley Parker, who cautioned more farms could be lost to rising property taxes and rapid residential growth.
North Carolina counties are required to complete a revaluation, or appraisal, of all commercial and residential property at least every eight years. Orange County’s revaluation is on a four-year cycle and accounts for home prices on the open market, plus their location, size, scale, and other factors. The goal is to make sure owners of similar properties pay roughly the same tax bill.
Homeowners this year are feeling pinched by property value increases of 50% or more, which have pushed the county tax base — the total value of vehicles, personal and real property — to $32.6 billion. Other counties are reporting similar increases, The News & Observer reported.
That’s a 38.6% increase from last year, County Manager Travis Myren said, and leaves the county with a “revenue neutral” tax rate of 63.84 cents per $100 in assessed property value. That would bring in the same amount of money to the county as last year, plus a 2.5% increase, he said.
Not this time, although Orange County did delay its 2013 revaluation because the nation was still recovering from the 2008 recession. That led to sticker shock in 2017, especially among commercial property owners, and added over $1 billion to the county’s tax base.
Another $2.44 billion was added following the 2021 revaluation, when some lower-income homeowners were hit hard. In Chapel Hill’s Northside neighborhood, residents and their advocates challenged the fairness of the county’s revaluation process and pushed for relief. The commissioners established the Longtime Homeowner Assistance program in response.
State law prevents the commissioners from a delay this year, because it triggers a revaluation when the sales ratio — the difference between the assessed and market values of property — drops below 85% or is greater than 115%.
Orange County’s sale ratio fell to 81.97% in 2022, Myren said, and in 2024, it hit 64.45%, largely due to the growing demand for housing after the 2020 pandemic, he said. The demand for commercial property, especially office space, has languished, he added.
The county can’t delay the revaluation, and it also can’t value property at different levels based on income or age, county resident Terri Buckner acknowledged to surprised looks from a few audience members. She urged the commissioners to be “extremely careful in what you approve going forward.”
“I worry each month, for the last couple of months, am I going to get my Social Security check, and when I open my bank account and it’s there, I breathe a sigh of relief,” Buckner said. “I want to do what’s right for other people, but I also want to be able to live the end of my life in comfort and safety.”
That depends on how much your property value increased.
Homeowners who saw their property values increase by less than 35% could pay the same or a lower tax bill if the county adopts a revenue neutral tax rate. Increases of 35% or more could mean a higher property tax bill.
The county and/or the towns could also adopt tax rates that are higher than the revenue neutral rate, leaving more homeowners to pay higher tax bills.
As an example, the owner of a home valued at $400,000 last year paid roughly $3,452 in county taxes. If that same property is now worth $600,000 — a 50% increase — the homeowner would pay roughly $3,830 if the county approves the revenue neutral rate.
A 25% increase, creating a home valued at $500,000, would result in a revenue neutral tax bill of $3,192, a decrease of $260.
Orange County and the towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough will set new tax rates by June. The commissioners also set the property tax rate for the Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools district and the rural fire districts. Property tax bills will be mailed out in August.
An appeals form is included with revaluation notices and also available online. Appeals can be submitted:
? By mail: Orange County Board of Equalization and Review, Orange County Tax Office, P.O. Box 8181, Hillsborough, NC 27278-8181
? In person: Place in lockbox at 228 S. Churton St., Hillsborough
? Online: appeals.spatialest.com/nc-orange#
There are two appeals periods:
? Informal appeal: Property owners can submit a real property or personal property appeal, such as for a car or mobile home, from mid-March through April 30. Staff handles informal appeals.
? Formal appeal: Property owners can submit a real property appeal or a personal property appeal, such as for a car or mobile home, from May 1 through July 31. The county’s Board of Equalization and Review considers formal appeals.
There are local and state programs — each with its own requirements — that help lower-income homeowners pay their taxes.
? Homestead Exclusion: Homeowners who are 65 and older or permanently disabled as of Jan. 1, with incomes below $37,900. Must own your home as of Jan. 1.
? Circuit Breaker Tax Deferment: A tax deferment program that puts a lien on your property. All owners of the property have to be approved and cannot earn more than $56,850 a year in 2025. Taxes from the last three years of program participation must be repaid if the owner dies, is later disqualified, or stops using the home as their permanent residence.
? Disabled Veteran Exclusion: Available to honorably discharged veterans who get their disability documented through the Veterans Administration. Applications are due before June 1 each year.
? Longtime Homeowners Assistance Program: A tax relief program for Orange County and Chapel Hill property owners who have lived in their home for at least five years, earn no more than 80% of the area median income for their household size, and own a home worth less than the county’s annual property value limit.
TG
The News & Observer
Tammy Grubb has written about Orange County’s politics, people and government since 2010. She is a UNC-Chapel Hill alumna and has lived and worked in the Triangle for over 30 years.
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