Wake Revenue Director to Retire

Curl oversees the collection of more than $850 million in property taxes each year. Wake County ranks No. 1 in the state for real estate and individual property tax collections, securing 99.66 percent of what is owed, officials said.

"Emmett's visionary leadership has allowed Wake County to vastly expand our revenue services, leading the nation in automated telephone and online payment systems," County Manager David Cooke said in a statement. "His foresight, vast knowledge of the local real estate market and attention to detail has repeatedly saved time and money both for the county and members of the community. We will certainly miss him and wish him well as he retires."

One of Curl's last major projects was a countywide property revaluation that was completed late last year. Appraised values rose by an average of 43 percent since the last assessment eight years earlier.