RALEIGH (AP) ó North Carolina lawmakers shaping a compromise to reform a law allowing cities and towns to annex neighboring property owners against their will have so far ruled out allowing a local vote.
A House judiciary committee Thursday unveiled revamped legislation lawmakers hope will reduce complaints from property owners forced to join a municipality. Some property owners have been forced to pay higher taxes for city services that sometimes weren’t delivered.
The measure doesn’t allow affected residents to vote on whether to accept annexation, something sought by protest groups. That idea is opposed by municipal officials who say local voting would thwart expansion because residents would reject paying higher taxes needed to support services.