N.C. voters back property tax limit, leaving lawmakers to write the rules – Spectrum News

N.C. voters back property tax limit, leaving lawmakers to write the rules  Spectrum News

N.C. voters approved a constitutional amendment for a property tax levy limit, but the details and timeline are still undecided. CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The state legislature put three amendments to the North Carolina Constitution on the ballot, and all three passed on election night. First, photo ID will be required for all voters, no matter how they vote. That was already state law, but now it matches the Constitution. Second, the state income tax rate can’t rise above 3.49%. Third, there will now be a limit on property tax levies. A property tax levy limit puts a cap on how much money counties can collect from property taxes, no matter how much property values go up.

The Republican-backed amendment drew a lot of opposition, since much of the funding for public schools and local services comes from property taxes. But voters have spoken, and it passed. Supporters of the measure say it shows North Carolinians want some limits on how much they’re taxed. It passed with around 60% of voters in support of the measure. “The intention is that the limit is going to make sure that year-to-year property tax increases don’t go beyond the ability of local residents to be able to afford it,” said Mitch Kokai of the John Locke Foundation. But some who opposed it say local