Tax group sues Raleigh over debt petition

Raleigh, N.C. — The Wake County Taxpayers Association on Thursday filed suit against Raleigh, alleging that the city improperly rejected a petition seeking a referendum on the city's debt load.

The lawsuit turns on the word "at."

The group said it gathered the signatures of more than 6,500 voters in April for a petition to place a referendum on the October ballot to require voter approval before Raleigh could take on any new debt.

City leaders rejected the petition, saying it didn't have enough signatures. The city charter requires petitions to have 10 percent of registered voters "at the last election."

The taxpayers group said they believe that means the percentage of people who voted, but Raleigh officials said it means 10 percent of all registered voters at that time.

"The purpose of this lawsuit is to make the court declare what the right of the people of the city of Raleigh is to fashion its own destiny when it comes to incurring debt," said Kieran Shanahan, a lawyer representing the group.

16 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 16 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments. Comments on WRAL.com news stories are accepted and moderated between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Latest Comments

Would that also apply when it comes to federal spending if all that voted could petition for conrolled spending and in which way it is spent?

cantstandya
September 9, 2011 2:34 p.m.

I'm with bill0. I like what the group was collecting signatures for, but the language is very clear.

storchheim
September 9, 2011 12:59 p.m.

"...at the last election." You don't have to be an expert in legislative drafting to recognized really sloppy work. At some level someone should have questioned the poor and unclear use of language.

XLAW
September 9, 2011 12:26 p.m.

They have to know it's a frivolous lawsuit, which they probably are outspoken against when others do it. And it highlights that they don't think they can get enough more signatures.