This petition sprouts from the deep-rooted agony and frustration that my late mother had to endure until her last breath at the age of 93. As her medical bills soared every year, she was burdened with yet another worry of managing her property tax bill lest she lose her cherished home.

We, the undersigned residents of Cumberland County, North Carolina, are here to express our staunch dissatisfaction with the current property tax rates for our area. We have sadly realized that these rates stand at an alarmingly high figure of 1.061%, a rate that substantially outpaces those of other regions in the state: Raleigh (.750%), Wilmington (.624%), Asheville (.612%), and Charlotte (.796%).

We specifically call on the City Council and County Commissioners to invalidate and abolish the recent property evaluations leading to such stark disparities. It is essential for us, the people of Cumberland County, to understand why we have been bestowed with the dubious honor of paying tax rates that are considerably higher than ostensibly wealthier cities.

We respectfully request the City Council and County Commissioners to reassess these evaluations, taking into account the economic burdens that many residents, particularly elders and those on fixed incomes, are currently enduring simply to retain their homes.

We appeal to the deep sense of fairness and justice we hope our officials hold, in the firm hope that this untenable situation will be remedied promptly and judiciously. Our expectation is not exceptional treatment, but merely a parity with the tax rates that comparable regions in North Carolina are subjected to.

Please help us honor the memory of our elderly residents like my late mother, who suffered under this tax burden. Your signature can make a remarkable difference. Please sign this petition today.