Moratorium protects private property, personal freedom

To protect the private property rights of North Carolinians and give legislators time to hash out fair annexation policies, the Senate on Thursday tentatively passed a temporary halt on forced annexations.

Under current law, cities and towns often force residents to pay thousands of dollars in new taxes and public services, such as water and sewer.  It often happens to low and moderate-income families that can’t afford it.

Senate Bill 27 keeps municipalities from considering or passing involuntary annexation laws until July of 2012, giving citizens, lawmakers and local government officials time to weigh in on how to reform the state’s outdated annexation rules, which were passed in 1959.

It also protects those communities from costly lawsuits and other litigation while the moratorium is in place.

“We don’t think government officials should have unrestricted control over someone’s private property,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham). “This is the first step in restoring fair policies to protect private property and give North Carolinians more freedom.”

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