CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ A North Carolina legislative committee voted Wednesday to advance a measure that would limit how much local governments can raise property taxes each year โ the first step toward potentially putting the question on the ballot for voters this fall.
The Property Tax Reduction and Reform Committee approved the measure, which would amend the state constitution to cap annual property tax rate increases by cities and counties.ย
It still must pass both the state House and Senate before voters could weigh in.
Mecklenburg County leaders are pushing back. Board of Commissioners Chair Mark Jerrell said the county is already facing a tight budget this year. Property taxes typically make up the majority of its revenue โ 58.7% last year.ย
“When they’re talking about caps and these blanket policies and this one size fits all approach, and not this targeted approach โ it is not something that we can support here locally. We care about our residents first,” Jerrell said.
He noted Mecklenburg County’s tax rate ranks 19th lowest in the state, despite its size. However, he warned that restricting the county’s ability to set its own rate could affect core services.
“Any time you’re looking at the budget, think about what we do as a county โ health and human services, public health, social services, education is at the top of the list,” Jerrell said. “Could you imagine if your own personal household, if your numbers were just fuzzy and hazy and question marks everywhere? How do you budget?”
Supporters of the measure pushed back on concerns about local control.
“We are not intruding into local government. It is our duty to put guardrails in place,” Representative Brian Echevarria, a Republican from Cabarrus County, said. “You don’t get priced out of the home you already own. You get taxed out.”
Democratic lawmakers also raised concerns, arguing a constitutional amendment would be difficult to reverse.
“If we actually do a constitutional amendment on this, it actually in future years constrains us โ and it should also always include flexibility on decreases,” Representative Maria Cervania, who represents parts of Wake County, said.
The General Assembly’s short session begins April 21.
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