Bert Connolly

♦ Family Info: Single
♦ Education: North Iredell High School, Wilkes Community College, Mitchell Community College, NC Justice Academy
♦ Career: Chief Deputy – Iredell County Sheriff’s Office
♦ Elected Experience: 1st Term as Iredell County Commissioner – Chairman of the Board
♦ Community Service: 31 Years Law Enforcement; Partners Behavioral Health Board of Directors

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?

CONNOLLY: I was inspired to run because of my deep responsibility to this county and the people who call it home. I was born here, I work here, and I was raised here. I care deeply about protecting what makes Iredell County a great place to live and work.

I believe in straightforward and honest leadership. When I saw the pace of growth and the challenges that come with it, I knew we needed steady leadership willing to make tough decisions and put citizens first. I bring extensive experience in writing budgets and making a dollar go as far as possible. I understand how to prioritize spending, protect taxpayers, and ensure government lives within its means. Serving on the Board since December 2022 has strengthened my knowledge of county operations and reinforced the importance of disciplined, responsible leadership.

I ran to serve the people of this county — not special interests — and I remain committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and protecting the future of Iredell County.

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?

CONNOLLY: Over the past three years, the board has made significant investments in public safety to keep pace with the rapid growth in our county. Strengthening funding for law enforcement, fire and rescue, emergency services, and all county services has been essential to maintaining the high quality of life our residents expect and deserve.

At the same time, we must remain laser-focused on economic development. Attracting high-quality employers, supporting commercial and industrial investment, and strategically expanding our tax base through responsible economic growth allows us to fund essential services without placing additional burdens on homeowners.

The path forward requires balance and discipline: managed residential growth, strong and well supported public safety, and aggressive recruitment of good-paying jobs. That is how we preserve our quality of life and protect the future of Iredell County for generations to come.

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?

CONNOLLY: For decades, Iredell County has experienced steady growth. Over the last ten years, that growth has accelerated dramatically. Much of the residential growth is occurring within municipal jurisdictions, where the county has no authority over zoning approvals or annexations. However, regardless of where those decisions are made, the county is still responsible for funding the services that come with that growth — including schools, public safety, emergency services, additional county services, and other mandated functions.

As our county continues to grow, so does the demand for those services. Our first responsibility is to protect the people of this county and ensure Iredell County remains one of the safest places to live possible.

We are committed to being as fiscally responsible as we most possibly can. We have demonstrated that by using cash to fund projects whenever possible instead of relying solely on long-term debt. We strive to be a pay-as-you-go county whenever possible. That approach reduces interest costs and protects future taxpayers. That is also why economic growth is so important — strengthening our commercial and industrial tax base helps offset service costs without placing the entire burden on homeowners. The fund balance exists to protect the county during emergencies, economic downturns, and unforeseen events.

My focus will remain on disciplined budgeting, controlled spending, strengthening our economic base, and ensuring that we can continue to provide the essential services our citizens depend on. That is how we protect both taxpayers and the long-term future of Iredell County.

Occupancy tax, often called the tourism tax, has been discussed as a way to help fund schools or other county services this election season. It is important to understand that state law strictly limits how this revenue can be used. Under state law, it may only be levied in the unincorporated areas of the county. Two-thirds of the revenue must be used to promote travel and tourism, and the remaining one-third can only be used for tourism-related expenditures within the unincorporated district — not for building schools or offsetting county expenses, and not inside incorporated towns or the city. That means it could not be used at the fairgrounds or the new high school, since both are located within the Town of Troutman limits. It is not a general revenue source, and we cannot spend it wherever we choose.

We must also be mindful that implementing this tax promotes tourism at a time when short-term rentals — particularly around Lake Norman — are already creating concerns for many residents. We are currently working on ordinances to address those issues and are involved in ongoing litigation related to short-term rentals. Any decision regarding this tax must be made carefully and with full awareness of its impact on our community.

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?

BROWN: I support the current approach and have consistently opposed additional residential ETJ (Extended Territorial Jurisdiction) releases since December 2022. In fact, I was one of the advocates in shaping and advancing the board’s position to decline further residential ETJ expansion for residential growth. Basically, ETJ allows a town or city to come out into the county and apply their zoning and grow. The towns and city should focus on fully utilizing land within their existing jurisdictions for higher-density residential growth before expanding development authority into unincorporated areas. Expanding residential ETJ into the county accelerates growth in ways that can outpace services and shift long-term costs onto taxpayers.

My position is clear: I support well-managed growth. At the same time, we must be aggressively focused on economic development — attracting businesses, supporting job creation, and strengthening our commercial and industrial tax base. Expanding our business base helps relieve pressure on existing homeowners and reduces the tax burden on families already living here.

Responsible residential growth, strong public safety, and strategic economic development are the foundation for protecting the long-term future of Iredell County.

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?

CONNOLLY: A major concern I hear from voters is the pace of residential growth and the financial pressure it creates for taxpayers.

It is important for citizens to understand the structure of authority when it comes to growth decisions. County commissioners have no authority over municipal zoning approvals or annexations. Those decisions are controlled by municipalities and are protected by state law.

What we do have authority over are ETJ releases. That is why this issue is so important. I have consistently opposed additional residential ETJ releases because expanding them further accelerates high-density growth into unincorporated areas. While we cannot control any decisions made by municipalities, we can control our own policies, and I will continue to stand firm on that position.

Although the county does not control municipal growth approvals, we are still responsible for funding the key services that come with that growth — including schools, public safety, and other essential county services. Residential growth does not generate enough revenue to fully cover the cost of the services it demands from county government.

When you look at the numbers, the impact is significant. Based on current debt service, operating costs, and capital cash dedicated to new school construction this fiscal year alone, it equates to roughly $470,000 per housing unit to support those education-related obligations — and that does not even include the cost of other county services such as public safety, EMS, or general government operations.

That imbalance places real pressure on county finances and ultimately on taxpayers.

If re-elected, I will remain focused on disciplined budgeting, protecting taxpayers, and strengthening our commercial and industrial tax base. Attracting quality businesses and good-paying jobs helps offset the cost of services and reduces pressure on homeowners.

IFN: Do you believe any of the services currently provided by the county should be reduced or eliminated? If so, which ones and why?

CONNOLLY: Given that we have very little authority over many of the growth decisions made by municipalities — while our population continues to increase — the county is often required to expand services to keep pace. As growth continues, demands on public safety, schools, emergency services, and other core operations increase as well.

There is no responsible way to eliminate services that would jeopardize the safety of our citizens or weaken the protections that preserve our quality of life. Public safety and essential county services are fundamental responsibilities of county government.

At the same time, expansion must be managed responsibly. We have implemented disciplined budgeting practices, focused on operational efficiency, and prioritized needs over wants. For example, we have started an apprenticeship program that is attracting strong employees and providing hands-on training to build our workforce from within. Programs like this allow us to strengthen county services in a cost-effective and sustainable way.

We will continue to evaluate programs, measure performance, and ensure that county government is living within its means. Our responsibility is to protect taxpayers while also protecting the people of this county. That requires both strong services and strong fiscal discipline.

IFN: What is your assessment of the various departments of Iredell County government? Are there departments that could do a better job?

CONNOLLY: Our county departments and offices have been under significant strain as they work to keep pace with rapid population growth. Despite those challenges, they have done an extraordinary job serving the people of Iredell County.

From public safety and emergency services to inspections, administration, and support departments, our employees handle demanding responsibilities every day. Much of their work is complex, high-pressure, and often behind the scenes. They deserve to be commended for their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to serving our community.

As commissioners, we have a responsibility to provide oversight, ensure accountability, and promote operational efficiency. Continuous improvement should always be the standard in government.

My approach is to support our employees while also expecting strong performance and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars. I applaud the difficult work they do each and every day, and I remain committed to ensuring they have the resources and leadership necessary to continue serving our county effectively.

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?

CONNOLLY: Education is one of the most important responsibilities we have as a county. This fiscal year alone, when combining current expense funding, debt service, and capital funds dedicated to new school construction, Iredell County is investing over $170 million in our school systems. That is a significant commitment and reflects how seriously we take our responsibility to support education.

We have also taken meaningful steps to reduce long-term debt by using cash for school construction.

The county paid $10 million in cash toward the new high school currently under construction and $52 million in cash for the new elementary school being built. Making those cash payments saves taxpayers a tremendous amount in future interest costs and reduces the debt burden we would otherwise pass along to our children.

At the same time, continued residential growth places additional demands on classrooms, staffing, transportation, and facilities. Those pressures must be responsibly managed.

Another reality we must consider is funding decisions made at the federal and state levels. When funding is reduced in Washington or Raleigh, those reductions often shift financial responsibility downward. When that happens, local governments and local taxpayers are left to absorb the difference.

That is not a true reduction in spending — it simply moves the burden to the county level. That is not fair to our school systems or to local taxpayers.

If additional funding is requested, it must be evaluated within the full context of the county budget. Any increase would have to come from increased revenue, reductions elsewhere, or expansion of our commercial and industrial tax base. That is why strengthening our economic base is so important — it allows us to support education without placing the entire burden on homeowners.

I do not support arbitrary cuts to education. At the same time, accountability and transparency are essential. Like every department funded by county taxpayers, school funding decisions should be tied to demonstrated needs, long-term planning, and responsible financial management.

Mitchell Community College plays a critical role in workforce development and economic growth. Investing in workforce training and apprenticeship pathways strengthens our local economy and prepares residents for good-paying jobs.

My approach is balanced: strong support for education, disciplined budgeting, and continued focus on expanding our business tax base so we can meet future needs without overburdening taxpayers.

IFN: Anything else you want voters to know about you as they consider all of the candidates in this primary election?

CONNOLLY: I was born here. I was raised here. I work here. My loyalty is to the people of this county — not to special interests.

I believe in straightforward, honest leadership. I am not afraid to call it like it is.

I will continue to be a voice for the people of Iredell County. A voice that stands up. A voice that asks tough questions. A voice that protects taxpayers and insists on disciplined budgeting. A voice that prioritizes public safety and quality of life above all else.

This election is about the future direction of our county. We are experiencing unprecedented growth, and the decisions we make now will shape Iredell County for decades to come. I will continue working to ensure that growth is managed responsibly, that our economic base is strengthened, and that this remains one of the safest and best places to live in North Carolina.

I am running to serve the people of this county — and I will never lose sight of that responsibility.