Letter to the editor: Vote NO on the amendments

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 10.22.26

There is a general rule at all levels of baseball: three strikes and you are out. The North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) struck out when they placed the following constitutional amendments on the ballot: 1.) Cap the NC income tax rate at 3.5%; 2.) Place limits on property tax increases by local governments; and 3.) Require ALL voters (expansion to include mail in voters) to present a photo ID.

Current legislators should be very careful in amending the constitution and “tying the hands” of future lawmakers when the issue can simply be addressed by passing a law. Capping the income tax rate may lead to a reduction in services and/or higher regressive fees for the average citizen. If there is another Covid-19 or Helene — extensive damage in Western NC, where would emergency funding be obtained? The federal government has shown that it is not a reliable partner.

If restrictions are placed on property tax rates, counties experiencing explosive growth like Brunswick County would struggle to fund such critical needs as education and medical services. Developers who have already benefited hugely from favorable laws passed by the NCGA would also receive a large financial gift.

Requiring citizens, voting by mail, to include photo identification would be problematic for some seniors and members of the military who have limited access to photocopiers. It was noted recently in an op-ed by a well-known writer that we shouldn’t be hasty in “slapping another amendment on our constitution... an amendment that might require, like the 2018 effort, an amendment to the amendment.

William Flythe

Southport