From: Kllmiller
Sent: Tuesday, February 01, 2005 8:45 AM
To: Millerwr
Subject: bill to vote on annexation

STATE BRIEFS

Published: Feb 1, 2005 Modified: Feb 1, 2005 3:00 AM

Bill would permit vote on annexation

From Staff Reports

Local residents whose property may be forcibly annexed by a municipality could hold a referendum to decide whether to block the change, under a bill introduced Monday in the General Assembly.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Andrew Brock, a Republican from Davie County, would require a petition signed by at least 15 percent of the voters in an affected area before a referendum would be required. Otherwise, there would be no vote, and the forced annexation would continue as scheduled.

The N.C. League of Municipalities has been opposed to such an idea. Annexation referendums were allowed before a change in the law in 1959.