A hallmark of conservative reform in North Carolina the last decade has been a commitment to reducing tax burdens on North Carolinians. Earlier this year the North Carolina House passed a conservative, forward thinking budget that continues cutting taxes while keeping government spending controlled. The House also passed in April House Bill 432 Property Tax Relief Study, which would examine the increasing tax burden placed on North Carolina homeowners by local government property taxes. House Bill 432 has yet to be taken up by the Senate.

Yesterday Speaker Destin Hall announced the formation of a House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction & Reform. Speaker Hall added “For too long, local governments have steadily increased property taxes. Enough is enough.  The House is focused on providing meaningful relief for hardworking North Carolinians.”

Rep. Brian Echevarria, the lead sponsor of House Bill 432 and a vice chair on the newly formed select committee, added today, “I am optimistic my colleagues will find a way to correct what has become badly broken. Our homes depend on it.”

Rep. Erin Paré, one of the Co-Chairs along with Rep. Julia Howard and Rep. Mitchell Setzer, shared “I’m proud to lead on property tax reform and co-chair this much-needed committee. Sky-rocketing property taxes are killing family budgets, pushing seniors out of their homes, and making it much harder for hard-working North Carolinians to own a home and achieve the American Dream. The House is now going to do something about it.”

The committee will study options to reduce property tax burdens as well as the potential impacts on local government revenues.