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Arguments
Against
Involuntary
Annexation:
The Role of Urban
Planning in the Decline of American Central Cities:
W. Cox, Demographia
Read
Howard Husock's views on David Rusk
and Municipal Expansion:
City Journal Article
The Case Against
Annexation and Consolidation
By Randal O'Toole
Read it
here
ANNEXATION ISN'T THE RIGHT
TOOL
May 15,2005
John Hood
JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION
CLICK HERE
Study on Involuntary
Annexation:
Annexation in Indiana:
Issues and Options Click
Here
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Transcript of NCLM Report #4
Interviewing Ellis Hankins about
Annexation in NC
(Ellis Hankins;
Director of the NC League of Municipalities)
Host: "WHAT IS ANNEXATION?"
Ellis Hankins:
"Annexation is the process by which our Cities and Towns can grow by
expanding their boundaries. The General Assembly has authorized Cities and
Towns to undertake annexation and has established all the standards.
There are several types of annexation... the primary ones are citizen
requested and City initiated
(involuntary).
The first, property owners petition the City or Town and request to be
annexed. The City initiated
(involuntary) annexations...the City or Town studies an area,
determines if it is in need of urban services, and undertakes a lengthy process
to see if the area qualifies for annexation under the Statutes development
standards.
There are very rigorous standards for City initiated annexations.
Opportunities for input and comment from residents..... and municipalities
must show how it will provide services to the area. There are also remedies
in the State law if citizens believe that the annexation process has not
been carried out properly.
There is one other method by which a City or Town can annex, and that is by
a local act of the General Assembly, but the two most common are citizen
requested and City initiated."
Host: "WHY DO CITIES AND TOWNS
ANNEX?"
Hankins: "Annexation of
urbanizing areas is a cost effective way of dealing with growth. You've had
a lot of growth in North Carolina over the recent years. That is good, but
it has to be accommodated, and services have to be provided. Expanding the
existing infrastructure, like water and sewer,...rather than building new
systems, benefits the majority of taxpayers.
Annexation makes it easier for Cities and Towns to have the resources to
compete for new jobs and provide public services to residents and
businesses. Not having the ability to annex in other States leads to
deteriorating City centers, unnecessary duplication of services, and
proliferating "special tax" districts that become a drain on everyone.
The ability to annex is one factor in keeping very strong bond ratings for
North Carolina Municipalities. We have the most AAA Bond rated cities in the
entire country, which means our cities get lower interest rates. Bond
Agencies look favorably on annexation authority as one factor in these
credit ratings."
Host: "SO WHAT WILL THE BILLS,
THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, DO TO THE MUNICIPAL
ANNEXATION AUTHORITY?"
Hankins: "Most of
them are designed to stop City Initiated annexations. Some Bills would allow
referendum on annexation. One would delay annexation until the non-residents
have an opportunity to vote in Municipal elections, which might be up to
four years later. Another would halt annexations for two years while the
issue is studied. The General Assembly studied annexation very thoroughly in
the late 1980's and 1990's and made revisions to the law in 1998. So another
study is not needed.
The point of all these Bills is to stop City Initiated annexations and that
would not be good for North Carolina."
Host: "WHY DO OPPONENTS WANT
TO VOTE ON ANNEXATION?"
Hankins: "Annexation
opponents don't really want a vote on annexation. They just want to veto
annexation and stop it from happening no matter how circumstances have
changed. Obviously, people who live just outside the city and benefit
indirectly from city services will vote against annexation. They have it the
way they want it and they will do that even after the time comes when it's
fair and reasonable for their property to be included within the city limits.
For 46 years our Annexation Statutes have helped keep tax rates low for city
residents and businesses and helped attract new jobs and protect property
values, protect the environment, maintained very strong bond ratings, and
helped keep our cities financially sound.
Prohibiting annexation puts all these benefits for the majority of North
Carolinians at risk. Prohibiting annexation will harm the majority of North
Carolinians through higher taxes, more expensive bond costs, and creeping
community decay.
So our municipal officials support keeping our Municipal Annexation Statutes
just like they are because they help to keep our Cities and Towns strong.
Annexation has been a success, so let's not mess with success."
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