Angela Wokatsch Matthews
♦ Family Info: 3 children, Abby, Chanler and Camden; 1 granddaughter Anna
♦ Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting; CPA Certificate North Carolina
♦ Career: 3 years Staff Accountant at Engineered Sintered Components; 27+ years CPA (CPA office in Downtown Statesville )
♦ Elected Experience: GOP Statesville Area Captain, Precinct Chair Statesville 3, Republican Women of
Lake Norman Treasurer
♦ Community Service: Auditor for the Miss Statesville Pageant, Treasurer Boys & Girls Club, volunteer work for Pregnancy Resource Center, Foundation of Hope, Iredell Christian Ministries, Rowan Iredell Volunteer Fire Department, Yokefellow Ministries, Restoration Road Ministries, Drug & Alcohol Coalition; Field Days at NB Mills Elementary School, Student Appreciation Days at Statesville High School, Pictures with Santa at NB Mills Elementary School and Sharon Elementary School.
Q&A
IFN: What inspired you to run for a seat on the Iredell County Board of Commissioners? What experiences have prepared you for this role?
MATTHEWS: I am an Iredell native, born and raised in Statesville. For more than 27 years, I’ve served this community as a Certified Public Accountant and small business owner. My career hasn’t just been about numbers; it’s been about helping local families and businesses navigate their most difficult financial challenges. I am running for office because the position of county commissioner involves the collecting and spending of local tax revenue. This tax revenue is mostly comprised of property taxes collected and sales tax collected in our county. I have provided accounting services for governmental agencies and understand the numbers. I know where there is available money and how Iredell can tap into that money. When we find other sources of funding, this allows us to lower property taxes.
IFN: In your opinion, what has the current board done well during the past 3-4 years and in what areas could it have done better?
MATTHEWS: Making decisions for 200,000-plus individuals within such a diverse county is a difficult undertaking. There are some decisions I have agreed with and many that I have not. In 2023, Iredell County experienced a countywide property revaluation, which led to the largest tax increase in our county’s history. Post Covid, many families were struggling to make ends meet. Inflation had also been at an all-time high. Those of us in the economic world understand that you cannot raise taxes during periods of high inflation and instability within our national and local economies. I would’ve lowered the property tax rate more to attain a more revenue-neutral approach. We have many seniors, veterans and disabled residents, and major tax increases caused enormous stress for those folks. Your home should be a place of security, not a bottomless ATM for local government. We must do better and work towards property tax reform, which is happening all across the United States.
IFN: Commissioners have received some criticism for not making a significant reduction in the tax rate after property values increased dramatically in the last property revaluation. What are your thoughts on this? If you believe the tax rate could have been reduced further, would you have balanced the budget by drawing down money from the fund balance, cut county services/staff or some other means?
MATTHEWS: I will continue my answer from question 2. In 2023, our legislators passed what I refer to as occupancy tax reform, which then allowed Iredell County to collect occupancy tax on the Airbnbs in the unincorporated areas of the county, meaning outside the city limits. Based on original projections, and this Board of Commissioners failing to implement the occupancy tax, Iredell County has lost out on at least $10,800,000, plus interest, in uncollected occupancy tax. That number is based on the original estimate of 500 Airbnbs. A recent report indicates that Iredell County could have as many as 2,000 Airbnbs, which means a potential loss of $40 million. This money could’ve been used to complete projects such as the Troutman Fairgrounds and the stadium at Weathers Creek High School, which would host travel ball tournaments and other major events targeted at bringing travelers into Iredell County. This, in turn, would also boost sales tax revenue for the county. There are alternative ways to fund our county government. We just need experienced individuals like myself, who know where to look.
IFN: Current commissioners have declined to release additional property in the county’s zoning jurisdiction to the municipalities in an effort to slow high-density residential development. Do you support this strategy or do you believe the municipalities should have more say in development outside of their current jurisdiction?
MATTHEWS: I support the county’s position on releasing ETJ and additional areas outside the ETJ. The ETJ should only be released for commercial development. High density residential development directly impacts tax rates. The more rooftops we create, the more services we must provide (for example, law enforcement, fire, EMS & schools). These services are funded directly from county funds. A 2015 study was conducted by NC State University and showed that for every $1 collected in tax revenue, it costs the county $ 1.35 to provide services, showing us operating in the red right from the start. We must focus on bringing in industrial and commercial growth to balance out the rapid residential growth. Industry brings in large tax revenues and provides good paying jobs for our residents. I want Iredell to be a county where people work, live and thrive.
IFN: As you have been speaking with voters in the past few months, what issues are they bringing to your attention? If elected, what will you do to address these issues? Will your solutions require an increase in funding?
MATTHEWS: The two biggest issues I have discussed with voters are the county tax increases and the unchecked high density residential growth. I intend to work on alternative revenue sources for our county, pushing for commercial and economic development, and continuing to speak out against unchecked high density residential development that does not fit our area and causes a strain on our infrastructure and our taxpayers. I will advocate for the people who live and work here. The decisions we make should be for the taxpayers we represent, not outside developers. I will also focus on trimming unnecessary spending and making sure the county is accounting for every dollar spent and that those expenditures are required and necessary.
IFN: Do you believe any of the services currently provided by the county should be reduced or eliminated? If so, which ones and why?
MATTHEWS: I do not believe in cutting any current services. Iredell County is a great place to live and we have wonderful people here. I do believe that as times change and the dynamics of our county change, we must constantly monitor our local departments to ensure we are adequately staffed and we are operating as efficiently as possible. Based on needs, I do believe there are times, we can combine services or positions to save taxpayers money. Depending upon levels of growth, some departments or areas of our county may need more resources, while others may need less. As a fiscal conservative, I believe that our nation was founded on less government and more individual freedoms. We were all given the ability to make our own decisions and less government means more independence.
IFN: What is your assessment of the various departments of Iredell County government? Are there departments that could do a better job?
MATTHEWS: Again, I believe that all our county departments do a great job and want to thank each of them for all their hard work and efforts. No one is perfect and to criticize any particular area would not be fair. Based on recent resident surveys, Iredell County departments generally receive high marks for public safety and essential services, even though we have faced significant pressure from rapid population growth. The Preamble to our Constitution references “Domestic Tranquility.” That terms means peace, safety, law and order. Our sheriff, law enforcement officers and first responders do an amazing job at protecting our citizens and making our county one of the safest in the state. We must continue to fully fund law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency services. Without these folks, we would have no functioning society.
IFN: Do you think the Iredell County Board of Commissioners adequately funds Iredell-Statesville Schools, Mooresville Graded Schools and Mitchell Community College? If you would increase funding, where would the money come from? If you would decrease funding, what cuts would you expect these entities to make?
MATTHEWS: Iredell County ranks in the top 25 counties in North Carolina for local funding efforts, while it continues to rank 98th out of 100th in terms of state funding. This scenario exists because the state has deemed Iredell a wealthy county despite its diverse landscape from the southern end to the northern end. The state believes that Iredell has a high capacity to generate local revenue, despite having a relatively low sales tax rate as compared to the state average. The state funding formula for schools penalizes Iredell County because of its high property values (mostly centered around Lake Norman ) and tax base, which causes a reduction in the amount of state aid provided. I have taken a look at the county financial statements. Before Christmas, I counted approximately 60 vacant county positions, including some vacant for six months and some for more than a year. I believe we could eliminate those positions. The total budgeted for those positions equals approximately $2 million. I would reallocate that money and reinstate the teacher supplements that were taken away about 15 years ago. Providing $1,000 for 1,278 teachers totals approximately $1.3 million, and we could still save $700,000 that could be spent towards other needs while helping those in charge of our next generation, our future, our children.
IFN: Anything else you want voters to know about you as they consider all of the candidates in this primary election?
MATTHEWS: I am your best choice for Iredell County commissioner. I am deeply ingrained in the community, with a strong understanding of local needs, challenges, and, most importantly, the people I will serve. I am actively engaged in my community. I am present at community events, volunteering, and accessible to constituents, listening even to opposing viewpoints. I have a genuine desire to serve rather than personal ambition, demonstrated through previous volunteer work, civic organization involvement, or advocacy for local causes. My decades of accounting experience give me insight into managing large budgets, reviewing complex financial documents, and making sound fiscal decisions to keep taxes lower while maintaining essential services. I am committed to open communication, ensuring that spending, zoning decisions, and government operations are transparent. I will prioritize the greater good of the county over personal agendas and politics, offering a balanced, and thoughtful perspective. I have a clear vision for the future of the county, focusing on responsible growth, infrastructure development, and quality of life improvements. And lastly, I will not vote to increase your property taxes, ever. I will be actively seeking and pursuing other revenue sources so that we can lower property taxes in Iredell County.
