There is a peculiar American tradition of "owning" property while paying the local government an annual subscription fee just to keep it.

Locke Notes ([link removed] )

Good evening,

There is a peculiar American tradition of "owning" property while paying the local government an annual subscription fee just to keep it.

We call it property tax. It is a system that would have made an ancient tax farmer blush, yet it remains the primary way our counties and cities keep their coffers full.

Locke Notes Survey

Do you support a constitutional amendment to limit how much property tax levies can increase?

No
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Yes
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(You can find the answer to last week's survey question at the bottom of this email)

The frustration is palpable. In a March 2026 poll ([link removed] ) , nearly 77% of North Carolinians described property taxes as a burden on their household budget. The problem isn't just the tax itself; it’s the "stealth" nature of the increase.

Local governments have a clever trick. When property values rise, the total tax collected (the "levy") skyrockets, even if the tax rate stays the same. The local council doesn’t even have to vote for a tax hike. It’s a windfall for the bureaucracy and a wipeout for the family budget.

This November, North Carolinians have a chance to put a leash on this practice. A proposed constitutional amendment would require the General Assembly to establish property tax levy limits.

A levy limit is simple: it caps how much the total pot of property tax revenue can grow each year. Supporters argue it protects you from the shock of a massive bill if your neighborhood becomes in demand. Opponents say it could make it harder for local governments to pay for public schools, public safety, and other services.

To illustrate what’s at stake, we developed the NC County Property Tax Savings Calculator ([link removed] ) .

Property Tax Savings Calculator ([link removed] )

Our model found that if a limit tied to inflation and population growth had been in place over the last five years, North Carolina taxpayers would have kept $6.2 billion of their own money.

The math is clear, even if the politics are messy. We invite you to use our tool to see exactly how much your local government might have "over-billed" you lately.

Calculate Your Savings
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Esse quam videri,

Donald Bryson

CEO

John Locke Foundation



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Last Week's Locke Notes Survey Response

Do you support a policy that requires utility companies to 'only pay for what you get'?

NO: 10%

YES: 90%

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