News-Record.com

I absolutely agree with the one-year moratorium on annexations. I bought a home in the county, outside of Greensboro city limits BECAUSE I didn't want to be a city resident. My county property taxes are high enough. Now, I live in an area where annexation is not in the foreseeable future, but who knows. I have a well and septic tank, I pay for my trash pick up and I very rarely go into the city for anything. There at least needs to be some type of debate, town hall meeting or public forum when the city proposes annexation. Giving cities free reign is not in the best interest of the citizens, especially when the city council is like Greensboro's.

I live in the Cardinal and am looking forward to being annexed. The city taxes will be deductible, the city will pick up bulk trash and leaves, the water bill will be cut in half and hopefully bus service will be extended in the future. No more special fire district tax. The only current negative aspect is the response time for police but if Greensboro and High Point continues to annex and rural areas continue to incorporate, Sheriff's patrol will disappear anyway. The one-year moratorium amounts to nothing but politics. Folks who live outside of corporate limits but who are receiving city services like water and sewer should not complain about being annexed.

I agree with the moratorium. The NW area has been taken advantage of enough already. (FedEx) Why should we have to pay for the fiscal incompetency of the developer run city government.

The moratorium is unnecessary. Cities have had the right to annex contiguous properties for decades. The areas in Greensboro being annexed, especially the Cardinal, have, for the most part, been receiving City of Greensboro water service for years. If you are paying City of Greensboro Water Bills now, you can expect to pay City taxes later. Plans to expand the City Limits led to the bond referendum for new Fire Stations. None of this should have been a surprise.

The additional provision of banning VOLUNTARY satellite annexations is just wrong.

I agree with the moratorium. We searched for over 2 years to find the "ideal" property: great school districts, acreage, somewhat isolated yet close enough to Greensboro.

Now, we have learned that some of our property will be used for the city's sewage and water lines. Our taxes will almost double but will our remaining property value double? Is it truly worth annexation for the few things that the city officials have promised the homeowners?

We have our own well and septic system. With the water restrictions that Greensboro suffered last year, is it wise to add more homes to the already sufffering water shortage?

Absolutely there should be a moratorium until the city can actually deliver the services they brag about. Will they be adding commensurate personnel to the already thinly stretched police department to cover these newly annexed areas? All we hear now is how they're cutting services. What were they proposing to do with the new revenues they anticipated from the property taxes they would gain? I'm always amused at the observation that those receiving water and sewer were getting something for free. Those not in the city always paid a higher rate for their water and sewer. They were not 'enjoying' city services without paying for them as it has been suggested.

The Greensboro city council is so desperate for growth and tax revenue they're overdeveloping the city and surrounding areas. We need to stop Barber, Johnson, Perkins, etc. from using our city to payback their developer buddies who put them into office!

I agree with the moratorium as well.We pay for our garbage pickup and a higher price for sewer and water.The sheriff and state do a fine job of patrolling the area.With a Greensboro force already thin how will that play out with more territory to cover? It seems to me that some Greensboro council members are developer friendly with disregard for the financial burden many families will suffer.

In "reaping" the services of Greensboro while living in the Cardinal, we pay a premium for our water and sewer services (is it not double what Greensboro residents pay?), and if we want medical services, we head for Baptist Hospital, where we can get quality care. Maybe we should be annexed by Winston-Salem!

The moratorium is for noncontiguous/voluntary and forced annexations only and was necessary because the Study Committee found that towns where not complying with the existing statutes. Also, NC is the only state in the country that allows satellite annexations. Every other state realizes that they lead to sprawl and that providing services to satellites is inefficient.

The forced annexation statue presently used by N.C. municipalities needs to be abolished.
A return to the pre 1959 forced annexation statue is desirable,and would address and speak to the rights which we retain,but we must exercise them.
Besides being repugnant,forced annexation violates rights of property.
The proposed moratorium on annexations is a beginning.
Also, we should abolish the N.C. League Of Municipalities,they use our tax dollars to violate us,they represent the elected officials,and lobby them constantly,the public be damned!!
Harvey

I urge the legislature to pass the moratorium on forced annexation before the June 30 annexation of the Cardinal becomes official. This move is clearly a land grab on the part of the city to increase taxes. The average resident of the Cardinal will see taxes double without any appreciable increase in services. Sure, the water rates will go down. Maybe the city will pick up your trash. I've been advised that our street does not qualify for City maintenance and may not qualify for trash pick up. A long list of City services was read into the record to justifiy the annexation, as required by law. The City says the Cardinal is already served by Parks and Recreation. Sure, if you want to drive accross town where the parks are located. Why doesn't the City annex Hagan-Stone park? They own the park, outside the city!!!

The government forced Fed-Ex on the residents when it was not needed, nor wanted with the excuse that it would replace lost textile and furniture jobs. Our unemployment rate is about the same as the national average. The only thing we are bringing in is more taxes, more pollution, more conjestion, more strain on our schools and our water sources.

It is time to go back to government for the people and by the people. Seem many government officials have forgotten that principle.

I live in the county outside Fuquay Varina and have been notified that we will most likely be annexed in June. Mind you, we have just been served notice. The only thing that annexation will do for us is to increase our taxes. I have a perfectly good well & septic system. We take our own garbage to the dump. I not need those costly city services.

It's about time that the people have a say in what's happening. I know that majority of the people that live around me do not want to be annexed!!!

Of course their should be a one year moratorium!!

In the annexation fight, who represents the citizens about to be annexaed? No one!!

There are two major problem with the current state: 1 - the citizens, in this enlightened age, should definitely be allowed to vote instead of having others, who have their own agenda, being allowed to make the decision for them. 2 - The current law on annexation on what is "urban" is completely out of touch with reality.

The current definition of "urban" could much more accurately be designated "suburban". Suburban typically describes areas that are almost entirely residential in nature with few if any stores, businesses, motels, restaurants, industry, banks. The current definition of "urban" does not address this issue at all. It basically uses only population density to determine if an area is urban in character. True urban areas have stoplights every block or at least every few blocks.

If one is only going to use population density to declare an area as "urban" and the current definition is 2.3 people per acre, then what population density would describe a "suburan" area?

I would suggest that the definition of "urban" include some mix on industrial, commercial development, businesses etc as well as population density.

Who represents the people outside the cities that are subject to forced annexation? Not the city officials - we can not vote in their elections. Not the county commissioners - they have no power to stop forced annexations. Not the state legislature - years ago they delegated this power to the city officials. No one represents us. Do you think this is right? You can rectify this by giving us a vote on annexation. If this is not politically possible, then would you please consider allowing cities to only foriclbly annex areas that are truly urban by including industrial, commericial, banks, restaurants and other businesses in the definition of "urban" in the law on annexation. Suburban, as the very name implies, are not urban in character. Please at least seriously consider increasing the density requirements for forced annexation to a much higher level than the current 2.3 people per acre. Three per acre would be a much more logical figure.

The current situation between the cities and us, their neighbors, is much like the farmer allowing the fox to guard the hen house.
We are the helpless hens, the cities and their allies (COG and NCLM) are the foxes, and the legislature is the farmer. We need new rules from the farmer ( legislature) to allow us hens to defend ourselves from the relentless attacks by the foxes. Please at least give us a stick so that we can attempt to beat off the fox when he attacks. If you think I am exaggerating, please read some of the many horror stories that were presented to the House Select Committee on Municipal Annexation in the hearings at Ashville and Raleigh. I heard them as I attended and spoke. I hope you will listen to them as well. It was very revealing to me to note that only 1 or 2 oridinary citizens spoke in favor of forced annexation. All others in favor were city officials. Those who spoke against forced annexation were mostly ordinary citizens like me.

We appeal to you, our legislators, to address this grave injustice being perpetrated on us by the cities. We ask that you grant us a moratorium until the annexation laws can be changed to give us much needed relief.

To those that think we "owe" the city because we live a few miles away, please read the following:

The Salisbury City Council continues to say that neighbors living outside the
city owe them money since we use their infrastructure. Well, City Council,
get out your calculators and tell us what you think we owe.

I 'll show you my figures. If our house was in your city, using the average
tax from your annexation report, we would owe you about $890 annually in
property tax. Since our house is NOT in the city limits, we can subtract out
the cost of fire and police protection. From your annexation report the
average cost per home was $338 and $305 respectively. Subtracting those
amounts from $890 leaves $247. What city paid infrastructure do we use?
We drive on some city paved streets, but federal and state funds paid for
I85, highways 29, 52, 70, 150 and 601. With that in mind, I would estimate
that we spend 2 hours a week driving on city paved roads. We may spend
half an hour a week in the bathroom using the city sewage system or getting
a drink of city supplied water. We do breath some city air, but so far you
have not found a way to tax that. So that would be 2 and 1/2 hours a week
that we use city paid infrastructure out of 168 hours or about 1.5%. Now
1.5% of $247 is $3.70 a year. So do we owe the city council this much?
Don't forget to subtract out our share of the sales tax revenue and all other
state and Federal funds that you receive. So it looks like we may owe you
between 0 and $3.70 a year, but depending on how much state and federal
funds you get, you may actully owe us money!!

City Council, will you show us your calcuulations?

Larry Wright
Rowan County

We should not even need a moratorium because they should not be annexing any property without a vote. Anyone who believes in annexation without representation is a complete and utter moron. My services are the same now as when I lived in the City but my taxes are much cheaper. Why should I pay more for nothing!!! And why should I help pay Lt Hinson’s salary and the other corrupt officers at the Greensboro Police? Why should I listen to the rhetoric of that nut case Bellamy-Small? Why should I help with that money pit called the Civil rights museum? The City is full of pork barrel projects and corrupt City Officials? I don’t need to pay for more drama in my life. The Sheriff’s Department does an outstanding job and I see no corruption. In fact, I feel much safer knowing a Deputy is responding than the GPD. I currenlty pay $12 per month for trash pick-up and the City of Greensboro charges me 500% more for my water but annexation will cost much more!! I can’t see any benefits for my increase in taxes. In fact, I see many more negatives and political drama. I left the City because of the major incompetence of its leaders and now they are sucking me back into this fiasco. Stop this madness!!!

If a homeowner is receiving the benefit of city water and sewer, they should be annexed. Additionally, county residents should pay their fair share when using city amenities (parks, library, etc...). The county needs to pay the amount it agreed to pay for the library, or the city should charge a user fee for non-city residents. User fees should be required so the people residing outside the city limits don't free load off of city residents.

This annexation comes at the worst possible time with the gasoline prices. We are all for a moratorium. I'm not impressed with city services such as police. We moved in 1993 b/c of crime in our old neighborhood. A perfect example of just how pathetic city services are...the night before we moved the screens at the old house were cut and our daughter threatened. We filed a complaint and gave names. A year later in our new home, we still had not heard a word from the police department as to their investigation.

When we moved into Oak Bend in 1993, there was already city water and sewer. Oak Bend isn't even mentioned on the website but they just delivered the city garbage receptacles. The city told us in 1993, our water was triple rated b/c we were not in the city then ( monthly billing vs quarterly water bills ). Now, the city website says we will be saving only ONE HALF on the water in lieu of 2/3.

Our county taxes are just over a grand. I know from my prior city residence city taxes were considerably more than county and that was 15 years ago, so our taxes are going to more than double. Our house payment will increase by $100 to $150 due to additional escrow for the city taxes, a burden we cannot bear. My husband employer put their own moratorium on annual pay increase.

At almost 60 years old, I am having to look for a job in order to pay the city taxes. We would move if it was an option but it isn't.

Oh and what city library? The city closed the Guilford College branch library. Oak Bend doesn't even have sidewalks much less a bike lane..guess when the city does that they will take 1/3 of our tiny little yard.

Unfortunately, our city taxes deduction won't help us taxwise as we are on the back end of our mortgage and don't have enough to itemize taxes any longer. *sigh* We just keep getting screwed from every direction.

We have not had proper city planning in decades...they irresponsibly allowed unchecked growth in this area, hundreds of thousands of forest timberland has been decimated in favor of these fugly cookie cutter cheap built houses. How many more strip shopping centers are they going to allow to be built, acres of concrete and mature trees replace by ornamental Cypress shrubs which do nothing for the rain cycle...loss of NC's trees=DROUGHT. Remember we used to be called the GREEN state.