NC H518

Establishes a new Article 43A allowing counties to levy an additional local sales and use tax at 0.25% for general purposes (separate from existing transportation tax authority).

Tax can be approved either by majority vote in a special election with 10 days' notice or by county commission resolution if no election defeating the tax has occurred within the previous five years and after holding a public hearing.

Any tax levied under the new authority must reduce the amount counties can levy under Article 43 (the existing transportation sales tax) by an equal amount.

Tax does not apply to food exempt under existing law or to bundled transactions, and all revenue allocated to a county goes to the county rather than being split with municipalities.

Amends existing Article 43 (public transportation sales tax) to clarify that counties may choose between financing public transportation or general purposes with their sales tax authority.