Letter to the editor: Vote NO on amendment

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 09.08.26

As a retired local government administrator with more than 30 years of experience in four states, I strongly urge North Carolina voters to VOTE NO on the proposed constitutional amendment limiting property tax increases.

This proposal is being sold as taxpayer protection. But voters must ask themselves: What happens when local governments can no longer afford to provide the services their citizens expect and need?

The General Assembly is asking voters to permanently change the North Carolina Constitution without providing a clear plan explaining exactly how this amendment will work, or how local governments including the county, will make up the lost revenue. With no discussions with local elected leaders, that is not responsible policymaking.

Property taxes pay for public safety, roads, stormwater systems, water and sewer infrastructure, public facilities, equipment, and the employees who deliver essential services every day. Yet Raleigh already tightly controls the ability of local governments to raise other revenue.

In many cases, counties and municipalities cannot even ask their own citizens to approve local taxes without first receiving permission from the General Assembly. Southport, for example, cannot even place a proposed local prepared meals tax of 1% before its own voters without state senate and house approval.

Now, the same legislature that restricts local communities’ revenue options wants to further limit their ability to fund essential services.

That is taking away local decision-making while leaving local governments — and local taxpayers — to deal with the consequences.

Until the state has an exact plan in place on how they will implement this property tax cap and has implementation discussions with their local leadership, VOTE NO.

Instead, in November, VOTE IN State Representatives who will listen to their local government leaders and become partners in helping them function properly.

Bonnie L Therrien

Supply