Poll shows support from Democrats & Republicans for two tax limits on NC ballots

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A new poll shows a majority of people — from both major parties — support two constitutional amendments limiting income taxes and property taxes in North Carolina.

Here’s the exact language on ballots that voters will be asked to vote for or against on Nov. 3:

The August poll of 1,000 North Carolinians from Catawba College-YouGov shows that 67% of respondents supported the income tax amendment when given the basic information, and nearly the same — 66% — when additional context was added.

However, the polls show, support for the property tax amendment dropped when respondents were given more context, with 79% supporting the measure after a simple question and 69% supporting it after hearing that local governments might have to cut services to generate enough revenue.

“Two-thirds of North Carolinians support lowering the constitutional limit on the state’s personal income tax rate to 3.5%, and that support remains virtually unchanged even when respondents are asked to consider arguments on both sides of the proposal,” Michael Bitzer, professor and director of the Center for North Carolina Politics & Public Service, said in a news release.

“Unlike the property tax question, where hearing about potential tradeoffs reduced support, additional information did little to alter North Carolinians’ views of the income tax cap,” Bitzer said.

Both constitutional amendment ballot measures, which passed with a supermajority in the General Assembly, were part of a deal reached between top Republicans over the state budget.

Opposition is gathering.

Democratic Gov. Josh Stein has already called the income tax cap “a financial straightjacket that could wreak havoc on our public schools and public safety.”

He called the proposal a “shell game” that would make “regular people pay the consequences of it,” because if there was a recession and revenues are needed, that could result in an increase in the sales tax. The state sales tax rate is 4.75%, with local taxes on top of that.

No Democrats in the legislature voted for the income tax cap, though two former Democrats-turned-independents did.

Stein has also raised concerns about instilling a property tax levy limit, saying that local governments need to be able to fund services with property tax revenue. When the legislature passed the property tax limit, one Senate Democrat and the two former House Democrats-turned unaffiliated voted for it.

Even though Democrats in the legislature overwhelmingly opposed the amendments, 71% of Democrats polled by Catawba College supported the property tax limit, or 56% after being given context about pros and cons. And 59% of Democrats polled supported the income tax cap — falling to 50% with context.

During floor debate in the state House, Cabarrus County Republican Rep. Brian Echevarria said the amendment is “about protecting our people from sharp property tax increases,” likening it to protecting chickens from foxes.

Two groups opposed to the tax amendments, Down Home North Carolina and the Carolina Federation, are launching Down Home NC’s “Fund the Future” campaign next week “to build better budgets for working people in North Carolina,” and its “first fight will focus on defeating two harmful tax amendments up for a vote this November.”

Election results will show if both tax amendments are supported by enough voters to be added to the state constitution. The amount of the property tax levy limit would be determined in a future legislative session.

This story was originally published September 4, 2026 at 1:51 PM with the headline “Poll shows support from Democrats & Republicans for two tax limits on NC ballots.”