Special to IFN
The N.C. House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform has formally recommended a state constitutional amendment to place responsible limits on local property tax hikes.
The proposed amendment would require the N.C. General Assembly to enact property tax levy limits, preventing local governments from increasing property taxes beyond a certain threshold, likely tied to inflation and population growth. States with statutory or constitutional levy limits generally provide defined exceptions, such as for tax increases approved directly by voters.
If passed by the N.C. House and Senate this session, the amendment would be placed on the statewide November 3, 2026, ballot for voter approval.
According to analysis from the John Locke Foundation, nine of North Carolina’s 10 most populous counties collected nearly $3 billion more in property taxes over the past decade than what inflation and population growth justify.
Recent statewide public polling shows overwhelming support for reform, with 76.8 percent of respondents saying property taxes are a burden on their household budget and 73.2 percent backing a constitutional amendment to limit local increases, consistent with the N.C. House’s proposal.
“Property tax hikes are overburdening North Carolina families, who are footing the bill while some local governments take in far more than inflation and population growth can justify,” House Speaker Destin Hall said. “I applaud the House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform for pursuing real reforms like the constitutional amendment on levy limits, which would ease this burden so North Carolinians can keep more of their hard-earned money.”
Sounds great on paper but all it’s going to do is move the costs elsewhere. Nothing but a short sighted attempt at political brownie points because of a few bad actors.
Where do you live, Matt?
Our taxes went up 57% in one year in Troutman.
Absurd.
Guess you haven’t tried to buy a home lately. Property values are absurd and that’s what your taxes are based on. How about doing something to help get prices down rather than pushing the bill around? Especially in a county struggling to pay for the schools needed for all the people moving in much less any other needs.
We absolutely need reform. Our commissioners need to know the difference between need and want and understand that people on fixed incomes and struggling young families cannot keep up with our tax increases. Increasing property taxes is the lazy undisciplined way to get revenue.
Where is the article about how Republicans in the state legislature want to give us away to developers by taking zoning away from locals and making it subject to state rather than local regulations?