Voters To Decide On Property Tax Constitutional Amendment

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.”