Realtors rattle sabers
The North Carolina Association of Realtors sent out this press release today, which reads in part:
The North Carolina Association of Realtors®, with more than 43,000 members statewide, has made a $10 million commitment to continue its statewide efforts to protect private property rights and housing affordability.The Association’s 160-member board of directors today approved a longterm plan to direct association dollars into a special advocacy fund designed to educate the public on key issues. An immediate infusion of $2 million will be made, and monies from future budgets also will be directed into the fund.
[snip]
The NC Association of Realtors® has been a leader in educating the public about state and local government efforts to impose a real estate transfer tax, also known as the home tax. Since November 2007, 19 counties have overwhelmingly voted against a tax on homeownership. In one county - Gates - voters have said no in two separate elections.
Translation: We're happy no local government has passed this thing but would much rather it not be an option and we're willing to spend a lot of money to make your constituents think you're a bad, bad, bad person if you don't vote to repeal.
Update: On a related note, our friends at the Associated Press just moved this little nugget:
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ The Senate Finance Committee wants to repeal a local tax option that has been shot down by voters in every county where it was considered.The committee recommended Wednesday to expunge a law approved last year that allows counties to triple land transfer taxes if approved by local voters.
Since last fall, 19 counties have asked voters to approve the tax hike. None was successful. Democratic Sen. David Hoyle of Gaston County told the committee that county commissioners shouldn't have the option to include the request on the ballot. He said voters have already shown they're not interested.
The bill now goes to the full Senate.
Democratic leaders in the House don't seem interested in repealing the law. They rejected efforts to discuss the issue during last week's state budget bill debate.
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