A House committee has given its OK to two bills that would undo local annexations. Annexations in Lexington and Kinston would be repealed under the legislation approved by the House Government Committee on Thursday. The votes came after residents representing the annexed areas told committee members that the local decisions were unfair and arbitrary; local government officials responded that legislators were usurping their authority. Stewart Smith, whose home was taken in by the Kinston annexation, said the city had not applied costs to the new residents as they had done in previous annexations. “We’re getting jerked around,” Smith said. Will Barker, one of two Kinston City Council members to oppose the annexation in question, said he nevertheless disagreed with legislators undoing a legal annexation. “Annexation reform must occur, but it must occur universally,” Barker said. “What other lawfully locally-adopted ordinances might be selectively repealed in two years, 20 years, or 200 years?” But House supporters of the bill said they were giving voice to people who had none when the local decisions were made. “It is truly taxation without representation,” said Rep. Rayne Brown, R-Davidson. The bills will now go to the House Finance Committee for consideration. (THE INSIDER, 2/11/11 ).
