North Carolina CSE “Stop Forced Annexation Campaign”

CSE is working for lower taxes and limited, responsible government, and one of those issues is ending the practice of forced annexation in North Carolina.

The website StopNCAnnexation.com provides some helpful background on the issue:

“North Carolina is only one of 7 states in the United States that allows for involuntary annexation of properties by municipalities (North Carolina, Tennessee, Idaho and Kansas are the only states where annexation without the property owner’s consent is permitted. Louisiana, Illinois and Oregon allow it in limited cases.).

“The NC Legislature passed a law in 1959 that shifted the approval process on annexation from state representatives to individual municipalities. Prior to 1959 the General Assembly was required to approve all annexations, and a referendum was required if 15 percent of affected residents signed a petition. However, that soon became a burden and annexation was shifted to municipalities, and property owners no longer had an option to force a referendum or vote as equal partners.”

“While the initial intent of the law may have been to close “doughnut holes” in municipalities so that services could be provided more cost-effectively, municipalities across the state have been abusing the spirit of the law. Many are now land-grabbing properties in outlaying areas to grow their tax base to cope with every-increasing debt burdens.
A recent interview with Town Of Cary staff couldn’t have made it any clearer: it’s either “increase taxes or grow the tax base”. “

CSE believes that voters and property owners should have a final say on whether or not their neighborhood is annexed by a higher tax municipality.

That’s why CSE is working to reform or repeal the North Carolina involuntary annexation law. Please join us by taking action and signing and distributing our grassroots petition.

The petition reads:

“Because forced annexation would tread on citizen’s basic property rights and raise their taxes in an unfair and unjust manner, we hereby petition the North Carolina General Assembly to stand up for the rights of its citizenry and oppose forced annexation by municipality.“

Download a copy of the grassroots petition here. (Word document)

Additionally, CSE is asking all North Carolina state legislators to sign a pledge. That pledge simply reads:

”During the 2005-2006 legislative session, I pledge that I will support legislation to repeal the 1959 Forced Annexation law.”

Please also download a copy of this petition (also a Word doc) and give it to your state officials. We’ll start posting the pledge results as we begin to receive them.

Thanks for taking action on this important tax and property rights issue!