NC groups launch campaign to defeat two tax amendments on November ballot

Two North Carolina groups are launching a campaign against two tax-related constitutional amendments on the November ballot, touting plans to knock on 500,000 doors and collect 100,000 pledges from voters to oppose the measures.  

Down Home North Carolina and the Carolina Federation, two progressive organizing groups focused on working-class voters, announced the “Fund the Future” campaign Tuesday during a virtual press conference. Down Home organizes in rural and small-town communities, while the Carolina Federation works mostly in major metropolitan areas.  

NC voters set to weigh in on limiting state income tax and property taxes in November

One amendment will ask voters this fall whether to change the state’s constitution to prevent the income tax rate from exceeding 3.5%. The other would allow the General Assembly to limit the amount by which property taxes can be increased, though it does not specify how to do so or what the limits should be. 

Republican lawmakers who supported the amendments have argued they would protect taxpayers from future tax increases and rising property-tax bills.  

“These proposals reflect the tax and fiscal approach Republican lawmakers have successfully pursued in Raleigh and would protect those principles in the North Carolina Constitution.” the North Carolina GOP said in a statement to NC Newsline.

But the two groups say the proposals would restrict the ability of state and local governments to raise revenue as North Carolina grows and costs increase. 

Jenn Frye, co-director of the Carolina Federation, said current personal and corporate income tax rates are too low to adequately fund state services, and the amendments would keep future state leaders from remedying that problem.

“It’s time that the richest people and corporations in our state pay what they owe, and these amendments do not fix that system. They actually double down on it and lock it into our state constitution,” she said. 

The Carolina Federation began talking with voters about the amendments in mid-July. As of Aug. 24, organizers had spoken with nearly 17,000 people, they say. The group said those conversations are part of an effort to build opposition before the Nov. 3 election. 

The campaign plans have more than 55,000 conversations with voters across seven counties. It will launch a website Wednesday with information about the amendments, voter pledge forms and digital organizing tools. 

Todd Warren, a former public school teacher and statewide campaign strategist for Down Home, said the groups are drawing on previous local campaigns over issues including school funding, affordable housing, parks and other community services. 

“These campaigns have been widely successful and have won real improvements for working people in rural and urban counties,” he said.