The Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly has passed a constitutional amendment that would limit the amount that local governments can increase property taxes. This bill was motivated by the massive property revaluations that have occurred statewide.
Voters will now have the opportunity to pass this measure at the polls in November. I am fairly sure it will pass.
However, it should be noted that nearly all the democratic socialists in the General Assembly voted against this bill.
This is an enormously positive step because it confines the appetites and prerogatives of local socialist elected officials sitting on city and town councils and Boards of County Commissioners.
However, it will not be a complete remedy for all homeowners. Some homes were assessed with a much greater increase in valulation than the average increase. These people will still face massive tax increases. George Hartzman has demonstrated this tends to be worse among homes that previously had relatively low valuations.
John Blust had some insightful comments:
Rep. John Blust, R-Guilford, said that “we talk about the struggle of commissioners and town councilmen. What about the struggle of average working people? They don’t have a source that they can just raise every year.”
“This is just allowing the people to have a voice in the fall. I think it’s a small step. The next legislature will have to grapple with more specific proposals to rein this in.
“But if we can’t even take this step, we’re just admitting to the public out there, you’re on your own. Your costs are going up year after year, and we’re not going to do a thing.”
John Blust is a good guy. And indeed: “But if we can’t even take this step, we’re just admitting to the public out there, you’re on your own. Your costs are going up year after year, and we’re not going to do a thing.”
Republican county commissioners seem to be about as Uniparty & worthless as you can get.
I would add, J. Sobran, that the state’s Republicans are chronically unable or unwilling to exploit when the socialists take indefensible positions as in this case. There are other examples on unrelated issues also. You should be able to hammer away at folks like Cooper and Stein and Jackson when these obvious softballs are lobbed up.
ALL the media can be counted on to present all issues in a way that makes Dems seem like the reasonable ones, obvious facts be damned. State and local politics aren’t very amenable to internet analysis the way federal is. So even as people watch less TV, it is the only game in town on the State/local level, and they are all in Cooper and Stein’s pocket.
J school weeds out any potential students who don’t see bigger govt as the answer. Or even who think truth should get in the way of bigger govt.
All you say is very true, J. Sobran. The task of local and state Republicans is to overcome this barrier that has been intentionally set. It can be done.
Happily the legislature is on gradually reducing the state income rate far into the future years. ( non vetoable )
Yes, very good news, Fred. Will be posting about that soon…