NC S312

Burke County Board of Elections shall conduct a referendum on November 5, 2013, for voters in the specified area to decide whether to incorporate as the Village of Lake James.

If a majority votes "FOR Incorporation," the Village of Lake James charter becomes effective upon certification of election results; otherwise, the charter has no effect.

The Village of Lake James shall operate under a Mayor-Council form of government with a five-member Village Council elected to four-year terms (staggered initially with two two-year terms in 2013).

The Village is prohibited from exercising extraterritorial jurisdiction, restricting public access to Lake James, interfering with FERC relicensing of the Catawba-Wateree Hydroelectric Project, holding alcoholic beverage elections, or restricting existing federal-county agreements on greenways and public areas.

The Village may levy ad valorem taxes up to 7.5 cents per $100 valuation without voter approval; higher rates require approval by referendum vote.