Posted: Friday, Jul. 03, 2009
RALEIGH The House Finance Committee changed a wide-ranging annexation reform bill Thursday to allow affected residents a chance to trigger a vote on whether to carry out a municipal expansion sought by elected leaders.
A referendum would be allowed if 15 percent of registered voters within the existing city limits and the area to be annexed signed a petition seeking a vote.
“I don't feel good about explaining to people why we don't have a bigger voice in the process” for affected property owners, said Rep. Hugh Holliman, D-Davidson, the House majority leader. “This amendment addresses the core issue of annexation.”
But circulating petitions that collect 15 percent of voters in cities like Charlotte or Raleigh would be so difficult that referendums would be rare, said Tony Tetterton, vice president of the Fair Annexation Coalition.
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