GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

S	1 

SENATE BILL 581

Short Title:  County Storm Drainage Taxes.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Senator Block.
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Referred to:  Finance.
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April 6, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO INCLUDE STORM DRAINAGE SYSTEMS AS A PURPOSE FOR WHICH COUNTIES MAY LEVY PROPERTY TAXES WITH RESTRICTIONS.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 153A-149(c) reads as rewritten:
	"(c) Each county may levy property taxes for one or more of the purposes listed in this subsection up to an effective combined rate of one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) on the one hundred dollars ($100.00) appraised value of property subject to taxation before the application of any assessment ratio. To find the actual rate limit for a particular county, divide the effective rate limit of one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) by the county assessment ratio. Authorized purposes subject to the rate limitation are:
(1) 	To provide for the general administration of the county through the board of county commissioners, the office of the county manager, the office of the county budget officer, the office of the county finance officer, the office of the county assessor, the office of the county tax collector, the county purchasing agent, and the county attorney, and for all other general administrative costs not allocated to a particular board, commission, office, agency, or activity of  the county.
(2) 	Agricultural Extension. – To provide for the county's share  of the cost of maintaining and administering programs and services offered to agriculture by or through the Agricultural Extension Service or other agencies.
(3) 	Air Pollution. – To maintain and administer air               pollution control programs.
(4) 	Airports. – To establish and maintain airports and               related aeronautical facilities.
(5) 	Ambulance Service. – To provide ambulance services, rescue squads, and other emergency medical services.
(6) 	Animal Protection and Control. – To provide animal               protection and control programs.
(6a)	Arts Programs and Museums. – To provide for arts programs and museums as authorized in G.S. 160A-488.
(6b)	Auditoriums, coliseums, and convention and civic centers. – To provide public auditoriums, coliseums, and convention and civic centers.
(7) 	Beach Erosion and Natural Disasters. – To provide for shoreline protection, beach erosion control, and flood and hurricane protection.
(8) 	Cemeteries. – To provide for cemeteries.
(9) 	Civil Preparedness. – To provide for civil preparedness programs.
(10)	Debts and Judgments. – To pay and discharge any valid debt of the county or any judgment lodged against it, other than debts and judgments evidenced by or based on bonds and notes.
(10a)	Defense of Employees and Officers. – To provide for the defense of, and payment of civil judgments against, employees and officers or former employees and officers, as authorized by this Chapter.
(10b)	Economic Development. – To provide for economic development as authorized by G.S. 158-12.
(11)	Fire Protection. – To provide fire protection services and fire prevention programs.
(12)	Forest Protection. – To provide forest management and protection programs.
(13)	Health. – To provide for the county's share of maintaining and administering services offered by or through the county or district health department.
(14)	Historic Preservation. – To undertake historic preservation programs and projects.
(15)	Hospitals. – To establish, support and maintain public hospitals and clinics, and other related health programs and facility, or to aid any private, nonprofit hospital, clinic, related facilities, or other health program or facility.
(15a)	Housing Rehabilitation. – To provide for personnel costs related to planning and administration of housing rehabilitation programs authorized by G.S. 153A-376.  This subdivision only applies to counties with a population of 400,000 or more, according to the most recent decennial federal census.
(16)	Human Relations. – To undertake human relations programs.
(16a)	Industrial Development. – To provide for industrial development as authorized by G.S. 158-7.1.
(17)	Joint Undertakings. – To cooperate with any other county, city, or political subdivision in providing any of the functions, services, or activities listed in this subsection.
(18)	Law Enforcement. – To provide for the operation of the office of the sheriff of the county and for any other county  law-enforcement agency not under the sheriff's jurisdiction.
(19)	Libraries. – To establish and maintain public libraries.
(20)	Mapping. – To provide for mapping the lands of the county.
(21)	Medical Examiner. – To provide for the county medical examiner or coroner.
(22)	Mental Health. – To provide for the county's share of of the cost of maintaining and administering services offered by or  through the area mental health, mental retardation, and substance abuse authority.
(23)	Open Space. – To acquire open space land and easements in accordance with Article 19, Part 4, Chapter 160A of the General Statutes.
(24)	Parking. – To provide off-street lots and garages for the parking and storage of motor vehicles.
(25)	 Parks and Recreation. – To establish, support and maintain public parks and programs of supervised recreation.
(26)	Planning. – To provide for a program of planning and regulation of development in accordance with Article 18 of this Chapter and Article 19, Parts 3A and 6, of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes.
(27)	Ports and Harbors. – To participate in programs with the North Carolina Ports Authority and provide for harbor masters.
(28)	Register of Deeds. – To provide for the operation of the office of the register of deeds of the county.
(29)	Sewage. – To provide sewage collection and treatment services as defined in G.S. 153A-274(2).
(30)	Social Services. – To provide for the public welfare through the maintenance and administration of public assistance programs not required by Chapters 108A and 111 of the General Statutes, and by establishing and maintaining a county home.
(31)	Solid Waste. – To provide solid waste collection and disposal services, and to acquire and operate landfills.
(32)	 Surveyor. – To provide for a county surveyor.
(32a)	Structural and natural stormwater and drainage systems of all types.
(33)	Veterans' Service Officer. – To provide for the county's share of the cost of services offered by or through the county veterans' service officer.
(34)	Water. – To provide water supply and distribution systems.
(35)	 Watershed Improvement. – To undertake watershed improvement projects.
(36)	Water Resources. – To participate in federal water resources development projects.
(37)	Armories. – To supplement available State or federal funds to be used for the construction (including the acquisition of land), enlargement or repair of armory facilities for the North Carolina national guard."
Sec. 2.  This act is effective upon ratification.