At the Orange County Affordable Housing Coalition (OCAHC), we know that housing is connected to nearly every part of a person's life. Where we live affects our economic stability, our access to resources, and our health and well-being. Housing instability can also affect our ability to participate in our democracy.

That is why we believe it is important to look at the three proposed State Constitutional amendments through a housing and equity lens.

1. Property Tax Levy Limit (HB 1089)

Concern: Local communities need the flexibility to respond to local housing challenges.

This amendment would require the State to limit how much local governments can increase property tax revenues. The specific limits have not yet been determined. 

Property taxes help communities pay for many services residents depend on, including local government affordable housing programs that OCAHC partners use to build and repair homes in Orange County. Housing needs change, and communities need the resources and flexibility to respond. While homeowners need meaningful property tax relief, the NC Housing Coalition’s analysis suggests that a broad levy limit may provide little savings to individual homeowners while disproportionately benefiting large corporations and reducing funding available for essential local services including affordable housing, schools, and emergency services.

Recommendation - Vote No: Property tax relief should be targeted to those who need it most, without undermining critical local investments in affordable housing and essential services.

2. State Income Tax Cap (SB 1080)

Concern: We should not permanently limit North Carolina's ability to respond to future housing needs.

This amendment would change the State Constitution to lower the maximum allowable rate from 7% to 3.5% for both personal and corporate income taxes. Under existing law, both tax rates are already scheduled to be below 3.5% in 2027, so the amendment itself would not immediately lower taxes. However, this isn't just about today's tax rate. It is about what North Carolina will be able to do in the future when circumstances change. 

A constitutional cap could limit options available to future leaders responding to population growth, economic downturns, natural disasters, infrastructure needs, housing challenges, or reductions in federal funding. State funding also plays an important role in affordable housing development, homeownership assistance, and repair programs. Preserving flexibility to fund these investments is critical as housing needs grow for North Carolinians.

Recommendation - Vote No: We don't know what tomorrow's housing challenges will be. We should be careful about permanently limiting the tools available to address them.

3. Photo ID for All Voters (SB 921)

Concern: Housing instability can create barriers to voting, and we should be careful about making those barriers harder to address.

The NC Constitution currently requires photo identification for people voting in person. This amendment would change that language to require photo ID for all voters, while allowing state law to provide exceptions. Although state law already requires photo ID for absentee voting, the amendment would make that requirement constitutional, making it harder to change in the future. 

OCAHC partners work and advocate with people who may experience homelessness, frequent moves, or housing instability. Those circumstances can also mean difficulty maintaining identification, receiving mail, keeping documents safe, or maintaining a consistent address. 

Those challenges are connected, and someone struggling to maintain stable housing should not also face additional barriers to having a voice in decisions that impact their family and community.

Recommendation - Vote No: For people experiencing housing instability, obtaining or replacing photo ID can be difficult. This amendment would make photo ID requirements more permanent, despite the barriers they can create to voting.

Summary

These amendments may look like three separate issues, but OCAHC sees a common thread: each has implications for affordable housing and the people we serve. What’s at stake is our community’s ability to invest in affordable housing and the ability of residents experiencing housing instability to have a voice in decisions affecting their lives.