NCACC
215 N. Dawson St.
Raleigh, NC 27603

Albert Coates Local Government Center
Phone: (919) 715-2893
Fax: (919) 733-1065

Quorum Center
Phone: (919) 719-1100
Fax: (919) 719-1101

E-mail: ncacc@ncacc.org

Perdue's proposed Mobility Fund draws committee support

The NCACC Intergovernmental Relations Steering Committee during its May 18 meeting endorsed the creation of the NC Mobility Fund, which has been proposed by Governor Beverly Perdue to provide funding for very specific mobility projects across the state.

The governor's proposal calls for the first project to be the construction of a replacement for the Yadkin River Bridge along I-85. Future projects would be determined by a new prioritization model that will be developed in collaboration with local governments, stakeholders and the general public.

Jim Trogdon, chief operating officer of the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT), told steering committee members that the approximately $300 million needed for the fund would be generated over a three-year period. It would in part be funded by Division of Motor Vehicles fee increases and the diversion of Highway Trust Fund dollars that are transferred to the state General Fund.

Committee discussion centered around the model used to prioritize and select new projects. Trogdon said he understood the importance of that component but that those specifics were not yet detailed. He emphasized local government involvement in the process.

Committee affirms support of current annexation goal

The steering committee also adopted a motion to reaffirm its support of the Association's legislative goal on annexation that was approved during the 2009 Legislative Goals Conference. The vote came after a review of the NCACC goal and progress made in the Legislature, and a suggestion by Forsyth County Commissioner and Steering Committee Vice Chair Gloria Whisenhunt that each county board of commissioners be granted authority to approve or disapprove municipal annexation. Board of commissioners approval is not part of the Association's multi-pronged goal.

NCACC Legislative Goal: Modernize Annexation Laws

Support legislation modernizing the annexation laws as follows:

  • Requiring the development of joint utility service plans for urbanizing areas;
  • Requiring cities to reimburse counties for the loss of sales tax due to an annexation;
  • Increasing the degree of urbanization required to annex property;
  • Requiring a referendum on proposed involuntary annexations in areas where public services – water and sewer and solid waste – are already in place; and
  • Requiring the direct provision of municipal water and sewer services to customers within three years of an annexation.
  • Providing that counties have the option of continuing to provide utilities to annexed areas.
  • Setting the effective date for involuntary annexations to be June 30 following the date of adoption or final resolution of an appeal.

As detailed by steering committee member and Durham County Vice Chair Ellen Reckhow, the Association's goal was developed as part of a long process that began with the creation of a special task force on annexation. The goal received due consideration from the Intergovernmental Relations Steering Committee, the Legislative Goals Committee, the NCACC Board of Directors and finally the full membership at the Legislative Goals Conference in January 2009.

Reckhow pointed out that the NCACC Board of Directors added language to the goal that specifically relates to the requirement of a referendum on a proposed annexation in an area where public services such as water, sewer and solid waste are already in place.

NCACC Executive Director David F. Thompson told committee members that a bill that passed the House during the 2009 legislative long session – H524 – is effectively dead for the 2010 short session. Thompson said he had been told by both Senate President Pro Tempore Marc Basnight (Dare) and Senate Majority Leader Martin Nesbitt (Buncombe) that they did not expect the Senate to take action on the bill this session.

H524, which currently resides in the Senate Rules Committee, includes elements of the provisions the NCACC desires, specifically coordination of cities and counties to develop a plan for transition of services and a requirement that services must be in place within three years.

The steering committee set its next meeting for Thursday, Aug. 26, in Pitt County, host of the Annual Conference.