Annexation supporters, foes, respond to new legislation

A well-intentioned amendment added to the state's annexation reform legislation Thursday sparked some unexpected reactions from both sides of the debate.

Members of the House Finance Committee voted 19-9 in favor of House Bill 524, which included a provision allowing residents to vote on a municipal annexation if a petition with signatures from 15 percent of the registered voters living in the city limits and in the area targeted for involuntary annexation, the Associated Press reported.

"It's putting an unnecessary burden on victims of forced annexation, to make them go out and get more signatures than what's required for a candidate to be placed on a ballot or a referendum," said Stephen LaRoque of the Good Neighbors of Kinston, a citizens' group formed to oppose Kinston's annexation of Crestview and other communities west of the city.

Candidates must obtain signatures from 4 percent of registered voters to get on an election ballot, and signatures from 10 percent of voters are required for a ballot initiative.

"It's really an impediment," La Roque said "This is not necessarily the reform we need."

HB 524 will now head to the House floor for a vote. LaRoque said he was glad a provision on voting was added, but the bill should be refined so it is "more representative of what the intent of this legislation should be."

He also feared that, even if the bill does pass the House, it could die in the Senate.

"We can hope for the best, but I'm very skeptical based on the makeup of the legislature," he said. "And the Democratic speaker of the House and the Democratic leadership of the Senate are very supportive of forced annexation."

The N.C. League of Municipalities, which supports involuntary annexation as a critical tool for cities' growth, stated on its Web site that it was against the "last-minute" referendum amendment and would oppose HB 524.

"With the amendment, this version is a disappointment, especially following the intense work that the House Judiciary (Committee) II put into a compromise," League officials stated.

If the bill in its current form passes, it would take effect Oct. 1 and apply to all annexations in which a resolution of intent has been passed "on or after that date," according to the bill.

Kinston City Manager Scott Stevens said the city would follow the state's annexation laws, whatever form they take.

"We'll comply with the law - that's always our intent - but it's hard to speculate on what that law might be," Stevens said.

David Anderson can be reached at (252) 559-1077 or danderson@freedomenc.com.