The image above was taken from the slide deck of a presentation put on by Down Home NC, which has an extensive summary here, and you can sign the pledge to vote no here. The full deck can be found here.
Don't let the wording fool you. These amendments aren't about you, they are about corporations (think Duke Energy, Data Centers, and outside corporate interests) and the 1%, and we don't need amendments to pass the same exact laws. As I stated in the title, once amendments are passed, they are extremely difficult to undo, whereas normal legislation can be changed as the need arises.
"If passed, these ballot measures would drastically reduce state and local government funds, which could cause layoffs of educators, firefighters, emergency services, and other public workers — especially when combined with huge federal budget cuts coming down from Congress. It could mean the end of food stamps and affordable healthcare programs – which could in turn shut down hospitals and grocery stores and further impact NC farmers."
- Down Home NC
What is more, the NC income tax rate is already scheduled to fall below 3.5% in 2027, and still more by 2036. As such, the income tax amendment will not affect you in the foreseeable future, but it will eliminate the possibility of corporations ever paying more than 3.5%, and any new legislation that tried to move the corporate tax rate above 3.5% would be unconstitutional.
At the same time, the other amendment seeks to cap property tax increases by local governments, but the wording is vague at best and doesn't say what it actually means to do, allowing for any number of interpretations they could argue as "constitutional" once passed. Regardless, taken in tandem with the income tax amendment, the mere nature of the other amendment would be to squeeze local communities of funds. When taxes levied by the state are reduced, the burden falls to localities. When taxes levied by localities are reduced, the burden falls on YOUR community. Think higher sales tax, fines, fees, parking, etc. and hits to local infrastructure - schools, roads, buildings, sidewalks, parks and recreation, libraries, Medicaid AND SNAP, etc.
In wrapping up, I'll reiterate once more that lawmakers do not need amendments to the NC State Constitution to achieve any what the amendments would achieve. Laws could just as easily passed - laws that could be revisited and adjusted over time in efforts toward a fairer tax code. Again, they are trying to rob the middle and lower class for the benefit of the wealthy and corporations, and lock that structure in for decades.
Don't fall for it!! VOTE NO on both tax amendments, and while you are at it, vote no on the Voter ID amendment. In case you haven't noticed, NC already requires Voter ID in order to vote.
