Emotions high at Monkey Junction annexation hearing

Please support this bill, too: GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2009 H 1 HOUSE BILL 498 Short Title: Annexation - Vote of the People. (Public) Sponsors: Representatives Goforth, Brown, Dollar, Steen (Primary Sponsors); Allred, Avila, Blackwood, Blust, Brubaker, Burr, Cleveland, Coates, Current, England, Faison, Folwell, Gillespie, Guice, Hilton, Hurley, Johnson, Justice, Justus, Langdon, Lewis, McComas, McCormick, Moore, Randleman, Rhyne, Sager, Starnes, and Tillis. Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. March 9, 2009 *H498-v-1* 1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 2 AN ACT TO REQUIRE A VOTE OF THE PEOPLE PRIOR TO AN INVOLUNTARY 3 ANNEXATION BECOMING EFFECTIVE, AS ENDORSED BY THE JOINT 4 LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION ON MUNICIPAL ANNEXATION. 5 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6 SECTION 1. G.S. 160A-37(f) reads as rewritten: 7 "(f) Effect of Annexation Ordinance. – No annexation ordinance may take effect until a 8 vote of the people affected by the proposed annexation has been conducted by the appropriate 9 board of elections, and the results certified indicate that more than fifty percent (50%) of the 10 voters approve the annexation. Except as provided in subsection (f1) of this section, from and 11 after the effective date of the annexation ordinance, the territory and its citizens and property 12 shall be subject to all debts, laws, ordinances and regulations in force in such municipality and 13 shall be entitled to the same privileges and benefits as other parts of such municipality. Real 14 and personal property in the newly annexed territory on the January 1 immediately preceding 15 the beginning of the fiscal year in which the annexation becomes effective is subject to 16 municipal taxes as provided in G.S. 160A-58.10. If the effective date of annexation falls 17 between June 1 and June 30, and the effective date of the privilege license tax ordinance of the 18 annexing municipality is June 1, then businesses in the area to be annexed shall be liable for 19 taxes imposed in such ordinance from and after the effective date of annexation." 20 SECTION 2. G.S. 160A-49(f) reads as rewritten: 21 "(f) Effect of Annexation Ordinance. – No annexation ordinance may take effect until a 22 vote of the people affected by the proposed annexation has been conducted by the appropriate 23 board of elections, and the results certified indicate that more than fifty percent (50%) of the 24 voters approve the annexation. Except as provided in subsection (f1) of this section, from and 25 after the effective date of the annexation ordinance, the territory and its citizens and property 26 shall be subject to all debts, laws, ordinances and regulations in force in such municipality and 27 shall be entitled to the same privileges and benefits as other parts of such municipality. Real 28 and personal property in the newly annexed territory on the January 1 immediately preceding 29 the beginning of the fiscal year in which the annexation becomes effective is subject to 30 municipal taxes as provided in G.S. 160A-58.10. Provided that annexed property which is a 31 part of a sanitary district, which has installed water and sewer lines, paid for by the residents of 32 said district, shall not be subject to that part of the municipal taxes levied for debt service for 33 the first five years after the effective date of annexation. If this proviso should be declared by a General Assembly of North Carolina Session 2009 Page 2 House Bill 498-First Edition 1 court of competent jurisdiction to be in violation of any provision of the federal or State 2 Constitution, the same shall not affect the remaining provisions of this Part. If the effective date 3 of annexation falls between June 1 and June 30, and the effective date of the privilege license 4 tax ordinance of the annexing municipality is June 1, then businesses in the area to be annexed 5 shall be liable for taxes imposed in such ordinances from and after the effective date of 6 annexation." 7 SECTION 3. This act becomes effective July 1, 2009, and applies to annexation 8 ordinances adopted on or after that date.

This is why the city is trying to strong arm annexation: GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2009 H 1 HOUSE BILL 497 Short Title: Annexation - Moratorium. (Public) Sponsors: Representatives Goforth, Brown, Dollar, Steen (Primary Sponsors); Allred, Avila, Blackwood, Blust, Brubaker, Cleveland, Coates, Current, England, Faison, Folwell, Guice, Hilton, Hurley, Jones, Justice, Justus, Langdon, Lewis, McComas, McCormick, Moore, Randleman, Rhyne, Sager, Starnes, and Tillis. Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House. March 9, 2009 *H497-v-1* 1 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 2 AN ACT TO ADOPT A MORATORIUM ON INVOLUNTARY ANNEXATIONS, AS 3 ENDORSED BY THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION ON MUNICIPAL 4 ANNEXATION. 5 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6 SECTION 1. G.S. 160A-37(f) reads as rewritten: 7 "(f) Effect of Annexation Ordinance. – No annexation ordinance may take effect until a 8 vote of the people affected by the proposed annexation has been conducted by the appropriate 9 board of elections, and the results certified indicate that more than fifty percent (50%) of the 10 voters approve the annexation. Please contact your local legislature and fully support this bill. There is no way that it can get passed fast enough, but it seems that if it is on the table, then cities could not actively pursue annexation, but this council has shown they care NOTHING about what the citizens think.

I think the county should just incorporate as a city. If that happened, the city could never grow again and would be land locked. The county already provides the services the city provides. The state annexation laws need to change.

I wonder after this annexation is passed, whether anyone will remember it come next election day, or will the same 20% of the population show up just to see the bums get elected again? I live in the City and the only current council members I've voted for are Earl Sheriden and Ronald Sparks, both of whom are letting me down. I truly hope that after you're annexed, that all of you who showed up at the meeting the other night will show up at the next election and help us get rid of these crooks. Otherwise, what do you expect?

Remember this demonstration on the river was also protesting the actions of our national leaders....who are increasing our taxes to levels that will destroy of our present system of government. Hey, our present leaders really want to "change" our present capitalistic Democracy to Socialism. All the bills creating unsustainable national debt( disguised as stimulus and bail-out bills) are filled with political pay-back for votes and campaign contributions, AND, they are also filled with social agendas that will change the course of this nation. Do we really want this kind of "change"??? That's what the "TEA PARTY" fights!

Please don't forget...They want to annex, But they want to layoff firefighters and police officers and close fire stations...

A million dollars for a garage to keep three street sweepers in and now it will take the taxes on Monkey Junction a few years to pay for that. Do we get our streets swept?? How ridiculous are their projects. VOTE THEM OUT DEMAND THE SAME SERVICES and sue them when they can not provide them. Sell the sweepers and make Sappo clean up his mess. This is a done deal.

Now let us all take a lesson from the book. The city wants it and their going to get it. That's all there is to it. They want Wal Mart, Lowes Home improvement and of course Home Depot. They are big money and they don't care because you all shop there and spend your money there. Did you think the city wouldn't. Ha! I have to say just this one thing about the nut jobs that spoke last night. Laura Triece is the biggest hate mongers that this county has ever seen. Going from church to church causing hate and discontent has been her motto over the past several years! Don't believe me just ask her. Oh well she'll jump on anybody's band wagon when it comes to politics.

How about the guy who stood up and screamed at the protesters that "you don't own city hall, this is not a public building, you all need to leave". Well gee, who does he think owns city hall, how about who pays for it---THE TAXPAYERS!!

King Saffo and his merry band of idiots have thrown down the gauntlet and the fight has begun. You're shameless and gutless Bill Saffo. You and your rich, elitist cronies who put you there will be defeated. A revolution has begun in this country to take it back from you people who claim to be "public-servants". You serve only your kingdom and rule with an iron fist. You and your subjects; both of them court jesters, Sir Sterling "Cheat-them" and Sir Tony "The MATH WIZARD" Caudle. You make the numbers work for you. You lie, you lie, you lie. You work for a corrupt and contemptuous government who cares nothing about the people. Get your own house in order before coming after someone else. You're violating our constitutional rights by this unfair, and unjust extension of your power. You will be so sorry SAFFO. So....sorry. We can therefore proudly state, as American Patriots.... We, the people of New Hanover County and Monkey Junction are determined to fight this fight before us. Under the United States Constitution, we have the following rights. We have right to petition the government for redress of grievances. We have the right not to be taxed without our consent. We have the right to retain laws based on freedom and free trade between all free people. We have the right to limit the powers of any outside governments, whether federal, state, county or city (corporation) (arbitrary government) enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into a unwilling community, person or property. Let it be resolved that we, the people, shall willingly fight for what is right and just in a free society and we shall take back our government; a government of the people, by the people and for the people. God Save this County and It's People and God Stop This Insanity by these Tyrannical Dictators. The Revolution Has Begun.

Americans for the "easier softer way" is what they should call their little group of non-Chrisitan, libertarian-republican whiners who want to have all the benefits of a city and don't want to have to share or pay for any of it! Hell, annex em and make em pay double for all they have recieved and gotten all these years and not had to pay while we have had to put up them! Lord knows if they do not like it, there is a trailer park in Pender county that Carolyn Justice can make real nice and Hog free for and then they can figure out how to dig a well, shoot off trespasers, heal themselves with herbs and edumacate they kids with the good news bible!

Why don't you move out to the country? Far away from Wilmington's grasp? It's obvious Wilmington has nothing you want, so move away. There are plenty of rural areas in surrounding counties that would love to have you.

Hey the annexation it is going to happen so accept it. There are good parts to it. The place is growing and that is life. Besides when an area is near the shore/coast it gets built up eventually. It is prime location. If you want freedom and space etc. live in the countryside.

It isn't rocket science. Cities annex for the tax revenue. With the financial hardships Wilmington is experiencing, I'm surprised they are not trying to annex every square inch surround the city limits and that might have been the plan had they gotten on with Monkey Junction more smoothly than the way it is going. The bad thing about annexation is that the citizens of the area end up paying taxes that support the city that annexed them but if they actually need anything in their area, it will be years and years before they get it. With the exception of protesting as they are doing and starting now to work towards replacing every member of the city council and the mayor in the next election, there is not a lot the residents can do. Monkey Junction today.....who's next?

If we look back over our history, we find that paying higher taxes is an inevitable monster that we will never get away from. I pay more in taxes than my parents did; they pay more than my grandparents did, and so on... Be it a hard pill to swallow, that's life and we have to deal with it. That being said, I live in an area already annexed. Sure I am not fond of everything that entails, but I do have benefits of services that are superior to what I had. I do not make that much money, but I do make ends meet. I have just started my family, so I realize these times are tough on young families. My Grandma made it through the Great Depression and from the stories she use to tell us, these times aren't anything. We've got to keep our heads about things, people. Acting like a fool will not fix a thing. After last nights display, I cannot believe City Council's audacity in calling the firefighters "bullies" and "out of line". They were no where near that wild and to my recollection no firefighter was arrested. City Council still owes them an apology. Remember Monkey Junction, once you become city residents your vote counts! If you don’t like it, vote!

The rest of us were annexed..... (And didn't want it) What makes you all so special? You shouldn't have to pay higher taxes for city utilities that both you and I now use because you have children, but my children should have to be punsihed because I could end up paying higher taxes to cover your use of city owned resources because (whine) you don't want to pay? Guess where you can stick your tea party...