Court Opinion

ID: 9605932
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 02:43:25.612692+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:02:31.002732
License: Public Domain

Bobbitt, J., concurring.
I agree fully that the condemnation of defendant’s property may not be defeated on any ground asserted by defendant.
While defendant pleaded the several constitutional provisions referred to in the Court’s opinion, it did not plead Article VII, Section 7, Constitution of North Carolina, which provides: “No county, city, town, or other municipal corporation shall contract any debt, pledge its faith or loan its credit, nor shall any tax be levied or collected by any officers of the same except for the necessary expenses thereof, unless approved by a majority of those who shall vote thereon in any election held for such purpose.” Defendant’s failure to plead Article VII, Section- 7, lends support to the view expressed in the dissenting opinion of Justice Higgins.
Whether the City of Greensboro has authority to contract any debt, or to .pledge its faith or loan its credit, or to levy or collect aiiy'tax, to provide funds to effectuate the redevelopment project,'unless approved by a majority of the voters, is not presented for decision on this appeal. Assuming approval by a majority of the voters in such election is required, it would be futile as well as expensive to conduct such election if, after approval by a majority of the voters, it were then decided that plaintiffs have no right to condemn for reasons now asserted by defendant. Hence, I am persuaded the present decision is justified even though all pertinent questions were not raised by defendant. Defendant, in my opinion, has fully and'fairly presentr ed on this appeal all available arguments bearing upon the questions presently considered and decided.
With this explanation, I concur.