As summarized in my recent post, the new annexation reform law requires cities to extend water and sewer services to annexed areas if the owners of a majority of properties in the area request service. The law requires the city to offer to each eligible owner of real property the opportunity to obtain water or sewer service, or both, “at no cost other than periodic user fees.” G.S. 160A-58.56(b).

First Amendment analysis of government employee speech is seldom a precise exercise.  The law is complicated.  The courts are firm in their notion that the cases turn on their facts and hard-and-fast rules are not really available. Let’s look at … Read more

First Amendment analysis of government employee speech is seldom a precise exercise.  The law is complicated.  The courts are firm in their notion that the cases turn on their facts and hard-and-fast rules are not really available. Let’s look at a real-life North Carolina situation and see how the free speech issues might play out.  The names have been changed to protect me.  In fact, I just completely made them up.  But the circumstances really happened.

First Amendment analysis of government employee speech is seldom a precise exercise.  The law is complicated.  The courts are firm in their notion that the cases turn on their facts and hard-and-fast rules are not really available. Let’s look at a real-life North Carolina situation and see how the free speech issues might play out.  The names have been changed to protect me.  In fact, I just completely made them up.  But the circumstances really happened.

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

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 tax officials have raised in recent weeks.   But first, a few general observations and reminders.

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 tax officials have raised in recent weeks.   But first, a few general observations and reminders.

One of the bills enacted by the General Assembly this session, S.L. 2011-376 (HB 648),  imposed new requirements for “owner-contractor” building construction projects.  Since the law’s enactment, a number of questions arose about these new requirements.  This post answers those … Read more

One of the bills enacted by the General Assembly this session imposed new requirements for “owner-contractor” building construction projects. 

One of the bills enacted by the General Assembly this session imposed new requirements for “owner-contractor” building construction projects.