Controversial House Bill 524, Annexation - Omnibus Changes Withdrawn

Meanwhile, Senate Bill 20, Voter-Owned Election for Treasurer will waste tax money on campaigns.

July 13, 2009

CLEVELAND COUNTY NC NEWS -- The controversial House Bill 524, Annexation - Omnibus Changes is among NC House Representative Tim Moore's topics during this week's update to Cleveland County and North Carolina covers the following bills:

• Senate Bill 20, Voter-Owned Election for Treasurer
• House Bill 1268, Eminent Domain
• House Bill 524, Annexation - Omnibus Changes
• The proposed North Carolina budget, which is still at a stalemate between the House and Senate leadership

"I am hearing from many of you on Senate Bill 20, Voter-Owned Election for Treasurer. This is another bill that would use taxpayer money to support political campaigns. I will be voting against this bill when it comes over from the Senate because we do not need to waste tax money on campaigns.

"House Bill 1268, Eminent Domain was on the House Calendar last week and then referred back to the Judiciary II Committee. The Bill would amend the constitution of North Carolina to prohibit condemnation of private property to convey an interest in that property for economic development and to provide for the payment of just compensation with right of trial by jury in all condemnation cases.

"The controversial House Bill 524, Annexation - Omnibus Changes, was on the House Calendar Wednesday, but was withdrawn and sent to the Committee on Appropriations. North Carolina's annexation laws have changed very little for fifty years. During this session, a House Select Committee and two standing committees have had much input from the public and various stakeholders. Although almost no one is completely satisfied with this compromise bill, those interested in annexation reform should support it. The bill does make progress in providing fairness to property owners. The primary issue on both sides is whether to allow residents a vote on whether to be annexed. While HB 524 does not provide a "clean" referendum, it does provide a vote that is practical for small towns and possible for mid-size towns. Current law allows no vote. The referendum provision in the bill allows a vote if 15% of the registered voters in the proposed annexation area and the annexing municipality sign an authorizing petition. Most who are interested in protecting property rights believe this is a positive step in allowing residents a reasonable voice in the process prior to annexation. Some other key provisions in the bill that provide more equitable treatment under our annexation laws include: requires extension of water and sewer lines within 3 years to annexed area - annexed residents are no longer subject to municipal property taxes if this deadline is missed, extends to 20 years the time for property owners to pay any assessments, and requires more information and structured public hearings provided to residents in proposed annexation areas. I have been getting many phone calls and e-mails from across the state on this issue, and I hope the House leadership will allow this bill to come back to the House floor for a debate and vote.

"The budget is still at a stalemate between the House and Senate leadership on how many and what taxes to raise, but they are meeting today. The budget deficit continues to be exaggerated by Governor Perdue and the Democrats despite the evidence to the contrary. They have claimed $4 billion, $4.2 billion or $4.5 billion. The 2008-2009 state expenditures including Federal Stimulus money was compared with the 2009-2010 Federal Stimulus money and General Fund availability for spending (without raising taxes and fees), and calculated this way, the budget gap is $1,123,128.644. If you take out the federal stimulus money, as some want not included, the budget gap is $1,069,721, 413. Either way you do the numbers, the state budget "deficit" for 2009-2010 below 2008-2009 is $1.1 billion. - a 5.45% reduction. I will continue to keep you posted.

"I hope everyone had a great weekend. As always, please feel free to contact us with any concerns or comments you may have. We look forward to hearing from you. You can reach us at our Raleigh number at 919-733-4838 or you can e-mail us at timm@ncleg.net or Moorela@ncleg.net."
Best Wishes,
Representative Tim Moore
Serving Cleveland County

Finally, we thank Representative Moore for his weekly updates and admire his passion for keeping transparency within government. Cleveland County's District 111 House Representative, Tim Moore considers his greatest legislative achievement to be the 2008 passage of the Jessica Lunsford Act, House Bill 933.