The state legislature is in the process of developing a budget, and here is one bad idea that’s being considered: a new transfer tax on the sale of property in North Carolina.
Why would it be fair to tax one group of people—those selling their property—to pay for infrastructure and services that benefit everyone? I have neighbors who rent. They aren’t paying the property taxes I already pay, [so] I’d be footing the bill for them. Tell me how that’s fair? In truth, these taxes would be paid by the sellers: people who in [many] cases have lived in the community and paid property taxes for years.
Communities throughout North Carolina have real needs that need real solutions. Some of these solutions could be bonds, tax-increment financing, public-private partnerships, to name just a few.
Transfer taxes are not fair, and they are not the answer.
— Anna Curvin
Canton
