Orange County: Commissioners adopt resolution of concern on Nov. 3 tax amendments

Orange County commissioners adopted a resolution on Tuesday, Oct. 13, stating concern about two tax amendments on the Nov. 3 statewide ballot.

The county posted the action in its own release, which also went out on EIN Presswire. The board met in a work session. The resolution is a statement of the board's view. It does not change the ballot. Voters decide.

This site is not an elections office.

What is on the ballot

The county's release describes two amendments.

One would cut the state's constitutional cap on income-tax rates from 7 percent to 3.5 percent. Orange County's sample ballot for Nov. 3 phrases that question as a constitutional amendment to keep the state income-tax rate from being raised higher than 3.5 percent.

The other would require the General Assembly to limit how much local property-tax revenue can grow. The county's levy-limit page and the sample ballot both use this wording: "Constitutional amendment requiring limits on property tax increases by local governments."

That property-tax measure does not set the limit, the county's levy-limit page says. If voters approve it, the General Assembly would still have to write the yearly growth formula and decide how to treat inflation, new construction, debt, emergencies and unused capacity. Until those details exist, the county says the exact effect on Orange County cannot be known.

What the board said

Commissioners said the amendments could make it harder to pay for public education, public safety, emergency services, elections, health and human services, and other services residents use, including libraries, senior programs and parks.

The resolution notes that amending the state constitution is harder than changing ordinary law. It takes a supermajority in both chambers of the General Assembly and a majority of statewide voters.

The board also pointed back to an April 2026 resolution, RES-2026-026, on keeping local fiscal flexibility.

"Orange County residents depend on us to ensure that essential services remain strong and responsive," Chair Jean Hamilton said in the county's release. "By adopting this resolution, the Board is underscoring the potential long-term consequences of placing restrictive fiscal policies into the State Constitution."

The board asked residents to weigh those possible effects when the questions appear on the November ballot.

When to vote

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. In-person early voting starts Thursday, Oct. 15, and runs through 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, the North Carolina State Board of Elections says.

Voters can look up a sample ballot through the state's voter search tool. Bring an accepted photo ID.