De-annexation petition count set for Tuesday
By Staff Reports
Published in News on March 25, 2012 1:50 AM
This coming week will be an eventful one for those with interest in Goldsboro's Phase 11 annexation.
A decision on a lawsuit filed by a handful of municipalities against the state's deannexation reform law, and the petition count ordered because of that law are scheduled.
The Board of Elections will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the Parker Memorial Board Room at the county offices on South William Street to count the returned petitions for the Phase 11 de-annexation.
A state law enacted last summer that reforms the manner by which municipalities can annex areas also allows for the deannexation of the city's Phase 11 area -- encompassing the Salem Church and Buck Swamp roads neighborhoods -- by the same requirement that an area can deny a city its annexation -- through a 60 percent return of petitions mailed to all property owners.
The petitions are due back to the board by Monday.
After a 10-day review period, the Board of Elections will then notify the city of the outcome of the petition drive, meaning the Phase 11 area could no longer be a part of Goldsboro during the first week of April.
The law has not gone unchallenged, however, as the cities that stand to lose land area and taxpayers have issued a legal challenge against the state, its board of elections and the boards of elections of each of the counties that are involved.
A decision on the lawsuit is expected soon as the case is on the March 26 to 30 docket at the Wake County Courthouse.