Like many North Carolinians, I’m monitoring the work of the new House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform closely.

Property taxes affect whether families can stay in their homes, whether seniors can age in place, and whether veterans and people with disabilities can live with dignity after serving our country or facing lifelong challenges.

They also determine whether counties can pay their bills. 

That’s why this committee matters to everyone — and why it should be a serious concern for residents of rural communities like those in House District 27.

No matter which side of North Carolina you’re on, rural counties rely heavily on property taxes to cover much of their budgets. 

In fiscal year 2023–24, Northampton County used property taxes to fund 63 percent of its general fund expenditures, while Mitchell County on the opposite side of the state relied on them for 57 percent. 

Rural areas, regardless of location, face similar fiscal pressures.

When state leaders casually talk about cutting taxes or shifting responsibilities, counties like ours don’t have a cushion to absorb the blow. 

We fund public education, emergency services, and basic infrastructure with far fewer resources — there’s no hidden reserve to make up the difference.

For veterans, seniors, and residents with disabilities, the consequences are even harsher.

When counties are forced to lean harder on property taxes, those least able to afford increases feel the impact first.

This committee looks like another vehicle for Republicans to push tax cuts that will further strip state revenue. 

Over the past decade, they lowered the personal income tax rate from 5.75 percent in 2015 to 3.99 percent in 2026, and dropped the corporate rate from 5 percent to 2 percent, with zero percent scheduled by 2030. These cuts have cost the state an estimated $18 billion in annual revenue since 2013.

Counties and municipalities increasingly rely on property taxes to fund the services residents depend on because lawmakers have prioritized corporate tax breaks over

sustainable public investment. 

For communities with limited tax bases, like District 27, that shift is devastating — homeowners and renters may face higher property taxes while receiving fewer services. 

These same tax breaks also explain why my Republican colleagues in the House and Senate haven’t been able to agree on a state budget.

If state leaders were serious about affordability, their voting records would reflect it.

In 2023, the General Assembly passed House Bill 488, which raised homeowners’

insurance and energy costs by freezing updates to building codes and energy standards for homes. 

Governor Cooper vetoed the bill, but Republicans, along with my Democratic primary opponent, voted to override it.

That same year, Senate Bill 452 raised auto insurance rates — once again supported by my opponent. 

These increases hit families every month, especially in rural areas where driving is essential.

This is a familiar political tactic: promise lower taxes while quietly driving up costs

elsewhere, then shift the blame to counties when services falter. And with primaries just weeks away and midterms later this year, it’s worth remembering how ‘tax-cut’ rhetoric can be used to rally voter turnout.

But this strategy only works if people don’t look closely at who benefits — and who pays. You cannot claim to fight for affordability while voting to raise everyday costs.

When revenue disappears, the impact to counties like those in District 27 is immediate and visible. Our schools feel it. Our first responders feel it. Our families feel it.

The House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform may sound like a step toward affordability — but a name alone isn’t enough. 

True affordability means honest choices, fair investments, and a commitment to all North Carolinians — not just those in counties with deep tax bases.

I’m ready for that conversation. 

What I’m not ready for is another round of political theater at the expense of rural communities who have already waited far too long.

Rodney Pierce is the state representative for House District 27