Which of these properties is likely to be exempt from local property taxes? A.   Vacant, unused land owned by Dook University, a private educational institution.   Dook plans to build a new science lab on the land once it raises the … Read more

After showing signs of life in 2010, the North Carolina housing market has slumped again in 2011.  The N.C. Association of Realtors reports that existing home sales volume through July was down 7% from last year and down 22% from … Read more

There’s no dispute that property owned by the federal government is exempt from local property taxes. Cumberland County cannot levy property taxes on the Army tanks, helicopters, and munitions at Fort Bragg.  Nor can Swain County tax the many acres … Read more

The basic concept behind North Carolina public records law is simple:  all government records are “property of the people.”  As such, they must be made available upon request for free or minimal cost unless a statute specifically exempts a particular … Read more

As the economy continues to drag, more and more local governments are relying on foreclosures to improve their tax collections.  I’ve blogged previously about the foreclosure process here and here.  Today’s post responds to a couple of interesting questions attorneys and … Read more

Municipal annexations have been the subject of much debate recently.  My colleague Frayda Bluestein expertly analyzes S.L.  2011-396 (H.B.  845) the one bill that became law among dozens on the topic introduced during the current legislative session here.  My post today focuses on the two major property tax implications of this new law. … Read more

The revenue-neutral tax rate is a bundle of contradictions.  It is intended to make the property tax reappraisal and rate-setting process more transparent, but instead it often muddies the waters.  The rate is required to be calculated and published by … Read more

Given the dire economic news of late, it’s no surprise that the General Assembly and local governments are trying to get creative with local property taxes.  Consider the suggestion from one county to levy a more progressive property tax, with … Read more

When local governments wish to fund additional services for portions of their jurisdictions beyond those provided elsewhere, they can turn to special tax districts to raise the needed revenue.  My finance expert colleague Kara Millonzi recently offered two excellent posts … Read more

[Update: In 2013 the federal government issued new regulations concerning this issue.  See this blog post for more details.] Remember those new federal regulations concerning the attachment and garnishment of bank accounts that contain exempt federal benefits? As I blogged earlier, the regulations took effect on … Read more