North Carolina lawmakers weigh property tax reform as federal funding shifts raise concerns

Wednesday, February 18, 2026
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Lawmakers in Raleigh are meeting again to discuss property tax reform as part of a recently launched committee aimed at improving affordability.

This is the third gathering for the House committee, which first met in late December to address rising living costs.

There is currently no state control over local property tax revenue. Rates are set by cities and counties and generally fund local services in those areas.

House and Senate lawmakers will also discuss how changes in federal funding are affecting North Carolina, as well as the case for property tax reform.

Tax exemptions for hospitals are also expected to be discussed.



UNC professor Whitney Alfonso explained how cost shifting in programs like SNAP, FEMA and education is affecting state and local governments.

"These are real dollars and real impacts that our local governments are currently thinking about and how they're going to cope with them," said Alfonso.

For example, Alfonso said changes to SNAP funding could increase the burden on North Carolina counties by $60 million to $70 million a year.
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