Anger, frustration and accusations erupted when a public hearing was held to determine Tyrrell County’s budget for the coming year — including a significant tax increase.

By the time the meeting ended, Commissioner Rob Thompson had been removed from the meeting for a few minutes and the budget approved with a tax rate of 87 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

The current tax rate of 95 cents is technically reduced, but new property values — the result of a recently completed revaluation — put the revenue-neutral rate at 78 cents. That makes it an actual tax rate increase of nine cents, or 12 percent. The tax bill for residents whose property value increased more than the average of 27 percent will go up even more...