A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to allow counties to levy a tax on vehicles resident in the county to support public transportation.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 20‑97 reads as rewritten:
"§ 20‑97.  Taxes credited to Highway Fund; county and municipal vehicle taxes.
(a)	State Taxes to Highway Fund. – All taxes levied under this Article are compensatory taxes for the use and privileges of the public highways of this State. The taxes collected shall be credited to the State Highway Fund. Except as provided in this section, no county or municipality shall levy any license or privilege tax upon any motor vehicle licensed by the State.
(b)	General Municipal Vehicle Tax. – Cities and towns may levy a tax of not more than five dollars ($5.00) per year upon any vehicle resident in the city or town. The proceeds of the tax may be used for any lawful purpose.
(c)	Vehicle Tax for Public Transportation. – A city, town, or county that operates a public transportation system as defined in G.S. 105‑550 may levy a tax of not more than five dollars ($5.00) per year upon any vehicle resident in the city, town, or county. The tax authorized by this subsection is in addition to the tax authorized by subsection (b) of this section. A city or town may not levy a tax under this section, however, to the extent the rate of tax, when added to the general motor vehicle taxes levied by the city or town under subsection (b) of this section and under any local legislation, would exceed thirty dollars ($30.00) per year. The proceeds of the tax may be used only for financing, constructing, operating, and maintaining local public transportation systems. Cities, towns, and counties shall use the proceeds of the tax to supplement and not to supplant or replace existing funds or other resources for public transportation systems. This subsection does not apply to the City of Durham or to the cities and towns in Gaston County.
(d)	Municipal Taxi Tax. – Cities and towns may levy a tax of not more than fifteen dollars ($15.00) per year upon each vehicle operated in the city or town as a taxicab. The proceeds of the tax may be used for any lawful purpose.
(e)	No Additional Local Tax. – No county, city or town may impose a franchise tax, license tax, or other fee upon a motor carrier unless the tax is authorized by this section."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.