Residents running libraries is Surrey's Big Society challenge
Updated: 2011-05-30 06:48:00
Why should local councils own Newcastle Airport?
Updated: 2011-05-29 06:40:00Painting the map blue
Updated: 2011-05-27 06:51:18Tax Collection in Special Tax Districts
Updated: 2011-05-26 20:30:19When local governments wish to fund additional services for portions of their jurisdictions beyond those provided elsewhere, they can turn to special tax districts to raise the needed revenue. My finance expert colleague Kara Millonzi recently offered two excellent posts describing the purposes and mechanics of county fire districts and local government special service districts. Today’s post focuses of [...]The Eric Pickles agenda emerges strengthened from the local election results
Updated: 2011-05-25 06:39:43What is Emergency Management?
Updated: 2011-05-24 23:41:55
Next Wednesday, June 1st, marks the official kick-off of the Atlantic hurricane season. Even as we brace for it, we need only look to the April 16th tornados in the piedmont and coastal plain to be reminded that disasters threaten all areas of North Carolina. Winter ice storms, floods, mudslides, and tropical storms loom as [...]The Government's localism scorecard
Updated: 2011-05-21 07:50:49Municipal and County Service Districts
Updated: 2011-05-20 21:28:08The General Assembly recently enacted S.L. 2011-72, which authorizes certain municipalities to establish one or more municipal service districts to fund costs related to the conversion of private residential streets to public streets, subject to several prerequisites and restrictions. The new Act has limited applicability—it only applies to cities located primarily in a county that [...]Privilege License Tax Update
Updated: 2011-05-12 21:39:46To tax or not to tax? That is the question cities across the state are asking themselves as the legal status of privilege license taxes on internet sweepstakes businesses remains in limbo. My view is that cities should continue enforcing their taxes on such businesses unless and until those businesses are held to be illegal. [...]Purchasing and Contracting Legislative Update
Updated: 2011-05-10 23:14:23
The 2011 Session of the North Carolina General is in full swing, and several bills are pending that propose changes to state purchasing and contracting laws and grant purchasing and contracting flexibility for some local governments. It is impossible to predict what the ultimate fate of these bills will be – all are currently pending [...]Fire Tax Districts vs. Fire Insurance Districts
Updated: 2011-05-06 02:16:36As I detailed in a previous post, North Carolina counties are authorized to establish two different types of special tax districts to fund fire services in both their unincorporated and incorporated areas (subject to certain conditions and procedural requirements, of course). Counties also have broad authority to establish fire insurance districts. This post briefly examines [...]Annexation Reform: An Interesting New Proposal in the Legislature
Updated: 2011-05-04 19:48:56Nearly 40 annexation-related bills have been introduced during this legislative session. Included in this number are identical House and Senate bills imposing a one-year moratorium on involuntary annexation, as well as several local bills undoing specific annexations that had been adopted but have not yet become effective. There are also several bills proposing significant reforms in the [...]Redistricting by the General Assembly: Five Legal Considerations
Updated: 2011-05-03 16:53:06The General Assembly is responsible for drawing new districts for electing members of Congress and members of the state House and Senate. It faces many issues of partisan politics and good governance, but for the moment let’s focus on five legal considerations. (As a side matter, keep in mind that, in addition, more than 100 [...]