With a plan to create new municipal districts for beach nourishment, homeowners in North Topsail Beach are concerned about how those taxes will be divided, while others want aldermen to focus on other improvements – instead of bringing more sand to the beach.
The town is looking at establishing two municipal service districts to cover beach erosion control, and protection work for floods and hurricanes from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to a map, the districts will consist of a soundside and an oceanside, divided by Island Drive. Taxes from the district will help cover costs.
The estimated cost of the project, according to the Corps of Engineers, is more than $670 million for portions of Topsail Island, with cost being shared by the Corps, North Topsail Beach and nearby Surf City.