Property tax bills for the 2012-2013 fiscal year are arriving in mail boxes across North Carolina. Thankfully most taxpayers will pay up without further encouragement. But plenty will not, and it’s a long four months until these bills become delinquent in January 2013. The general rule, of course, is that enforced collection measures such as attachment and garnishment or foreclosure may not begin until taxes become delinquent. Are tax offices’ hands completely tied until then?

On August 21, 2012, a unanimous panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals held that the State may not deny any eligible at-risk four year old admission to its Pre-Kindergarten (formerly More at Four) program. On its face, this … Read more

On August 21, 2012, a unanimous panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals held that the State may not deny any eligible at-risk four year old admission to its Pre-Kindergarten (formerly More at Four) program. On its face, this court holding imposes a substantial, and potentially expensive, new obligation. The case is Hoke County Board of Education v. State of North Carolina, No. COA11-1545 (Aug. 21, 2012).

On August 21, 2012, a unanimous panel of the North Carolina Court of Appeals held that the State may not deny any eligible at-risk four year old admission to its Pre-Kindergarten (formerly More at Four) program. On its face, this court holding imposes a substantial, and potentially expensive, new obligation. The case is Hoke County Board of Education v. State of North Carolina, No. COA11-1545 (Aug. 21, 2012).

UPDATE September 2013: For more recent information on this topic, click here. There was a lot of activity this past legislative session around the issue of local human services organization and governance.  In the final weeks of the session, the … Read more

Which of the following proposed transactions requires that the unit first seek approval from the State’s Local Government Commission? 1. The Town of Blowing Rocks borrows $1 million from a local credit union to make repairs to several of its … Read more

Which of the following proposed transactions requires that the unit first seek approval from the State’s Local Government Commission? 1. The Town of Blowing Rocks borrows $1 million from a local credit union to make repairs to several of its administrative buildings that were damaged in a recent storm. The town grants a security interest in the buildings to the credit union and agrees to repay the loan, with interest, over 59 months. 2. A developer borrows funds from a bank to construct a large office building in Trump Village’s downtown.

Which of the following proposed transactions requires that the unit first seek approval from the State’s Local Government Commission? 1. The Town of Blowing Rocks borrows $1 million from a local credit union to make repairs to several of its administrative buildings that were damaged in a recent storm. The town grants a security interest in the buildings to the credit union and agrees to repay the loan, with interest, over 59 months. 2. A developer borrows funds from a bank to construct a large office building in Trump Village’s downtown.

North Carolina governmental employers regularly have this question when they are hiring:  do we have to advertise this position? Maybe they already have in mind someone for the job, perhaps someone already working within the organization. Must they go through … Read more

North Carolina governmental employers regularly have this question when they are hiring:  do we have to advertise this position? Maybe they already have in mind someone for the job, perhaps someone already working within the organization. Must they go through an advertising process when they have in fact already decided who they want to hire? Here’s the short answer. If the employer is covered by the State Personnel Act (the “SPA,” Chapter 126 of the North Carolina General Statutes), then it must advertise position openings before making a hiring decision.