Skip to main content

Author: School of Government ITD Applications Team

In the state budget bill, S.L. 2015-241, the legislature made a few changes to municipal service district (MSD) authority. An MSD is a defined area within a municipality in which the unit’s governing board levies an additional property tax in order to provide projects or extra services that benefit the properties in the district. (Counties have similar authority, referred to as county service districts.) A service district is not a separate government.

In the state budget bill, S.L. 2015-241, the legislature made a few changes to municipal service district (MSD) authority. An MSD is a defined area within a municipality in which the unit’s governing board levies an additional property tax in order to provide projects or extra services that benefit the properties in the district. (Counties have similar authority, referred to as county service districts.) A service district is not a separate government.

In 2013 the North Carolina General Assembly enacted a law (S.L. 2013-50) that requires the city of Asheville to transfer its water system to an existing metropolitan sewerage district (MSD) operating in Buncombe County. Once the water system is transferred, the law transforms the MSD into a new entity, a municipal water and sewer district (MWSD), which has authority to operate both the water and sewer systems.

In 2013 the North Carolina General Assembly enacted a law (S.L. 2013-50) that requires the city of Asheville to transfer its water system to an existing metropolitan sewerage district (MSD) operating in Buncombe County. Once the water system is transferred, the law transforms the MSD into a new entity, a municipal water and sewer district (MWSD), which has authority to operate both the water and sewer systems.

The governing boards of several government-owned or operated water and sewer utilities currently have the authority to mandate connection of certain properties to their water systems. The authority extends to municipalities, counties, sanitary districts, and water and sewer authorities (hereinafter referred to as “government utility”).

The governing boards of several government-owned or operated water and sewer utilities currently have the authority to mandate connection of certain properties to their water systems. The authority extends to municipalities, counties, sanitary districts, and water and sewer authorities (hereinafter referred to as “government utility”).