Mt. Airy candidates debate annexation

The Mount Airy News reports that annexation was among the issues recently debated by municipal candidates. From the Oct. 3 article:

The candidates also differed on annexation, which has been a controversial issue due to residents recently being forced into the city limits.

Cochran pointed out that only four states, including North Carolina, now allow forced annexation. She mentioned one case in which a local woman is having to rely on subsidized government housing because she can't afford the higher taxes and utility hookups resulting from annexation of her home. “I am not in favor of forced annexation,” Cochran said.

One of Cochran's opponents, Sickmiller, took a similar position. “There are a lot of things that are legal to do,” she said, but that doesn't mean they have to be done. She also wonders whether the tax money generated from annexed communities adequately offsets the related expenses. “I don't believe in forced annexation if it's only for the money.”

Said Brown: “I think there should be many independent studies done before you annex an area.” Saying numerous factors should be considered, he added, “I am not in favor of off-the-wall annexation at any time.” He thinks major annexations should be studied at least 10 years before being approved, although he said individual property owners who are willing to pay for city services should be allowed to join the municipality. “It doesn't have to be hundreds of people.”

While he said it was not fair for non-city residents to use Mount Airy services without paying extra, Livengood said he understands why some people want to live outside the municipality, possibly because of quieter neighborhoods or lower taxes.

Lowry said that annexation should be undertaken on a case-by-case basis, and only where economically feasible. “We're about annexed out,” he said.

“The greatest need we have in Mount Airy is fiscal management,” he said. “We are on the verge of a fiscal train wreck.”

Harris was the only candidate who supports an aggressive annexation approach, saying that cities have to offer a certain population to be considering by companies wanting to locate facilities to a community. Otherwise, the city will be passed over, the incumbent said.