H256 - Incorporate Lake James

• Incorporates the Village of Lake James in Burke County as a municipal corporation with all powers granted to cities under North Carolina law.

• Establishes a five-member Village Council elected by village voters, with council members serving four-year terms (staggered initially with three serving four years and two serving two years in 2011).

• Designates the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tempore to be elected from among council members for two-year terms, with the Mayor presiding over council meetings and having voting rights except for tie-breaking.

• Prohibits the village from exercising extraterritorial jurisdiction, annexing territory in McDowell County, holding alcoholic beverage elections, or interfering with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission relicensing of the Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project.

• Caps ad valorem tax rate at 7.5 cents per $100 valuation unless approved by two-thirds vote of qualified voters; allows tax collection to begin July 1, 2011.