ANNEXATION
Sen. Berger tells Mayor Saffo to back off fighting annexation law, or else. North Carolina State Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger has informed the mayors of several cities and the North Carolina League of Municipalities that should the cities continue to fight this new law in court, the General Assembly – which holds the sole Constitutional Authority over municipal boundaries – will simply create permanent municipal lines to stop these cities from imposing forced annexation.
City council votes against annexation. The Burlington City Council decided on Tuesday not to annex three properties outside city limits whose owners had petitioned for water or sewer services in November.
Editorial: Lawsuits over annexation wastes taxpayer money. The Rocky Mount city council will spend tens of thousands of dollars, perhaps even a hundred thousand dollars, of taxpayer’s money in its lawsuit against the state. I for one think it is shameful and disrespectful.
Lexington annexation fight heating up. An annexation battle is being waged on several fronts in Lexington, but the N.C. General Assembly has the biggest guns — if it chooses to fire.
MUNICIPAL ELECTION
Dean drops election appeal. Gladys Dean has withdrawn her request for a hearing to appeal the election results in which she lost her race for mayor of Maxton.
Thomasville election results certified; city files annexation review protest. The Davidson County Board of Elections on Wednesday officially certified the Nov. 8 Thomasville municipal election results following the repeal of an election protest filed by Thomasville mayoral candidate Earl Harrison last week. Harrison filed the protest Nov. 17 after losing to incumbent Chair city mayor Joe Bennett.
Push to alter city elections under way. One of the first orders of business in the new year for one Mount Airy official will be pushing for a change in city election procedure — even it if means shortening his own term.
GAS TAX
Just why is the state adding to gasoline tax? What we would like to hear is more detail about why the tax is going up nearly 4 cents to the highest gas tax rate in the state’s history and how this particular rate hike is being computed.
GENERAL
Mayor, Police Chief urge community to join Citizen's Police Academy. As crime concerns continue to plague areas of the east, local law enforcement and city officials are exploring ways to strengthen their fight against crime.
Cities prepare for 2012 revaluation. Official property tax values for all homes and other real estate in Cabarrus County will likely decrease in early 2012 as the county completes the final portion of its 2012 Revaluation and begins alerting property owners to the changes.