Mike Haigler, Your Locust City Councilman

10/31/2026

Still think the state can do better with local budgets and income for towns and counties?
How many of you are aware of the HR 1 federal bill that shifted costs for SNAP to the state and the state shifted the costs to local government?
In a nutshell. The bill says that states now assume 75% of SNAP costs instead of 50% and who have an error rate for SNAP payouts over 6% assume the costs for that. NC is one of a few who has an error rate over 6%.
So, now the federal government covers only 25% of SNAP benefits, leaving the state to cover 75% of the benefits AND pay a penalty if they issue payouts errors over 6%.
Now....here is the part you should be concerned more about.
The state wants to control your tax base....AND the state has decided to pass the cost of HR 1 on to the counties and cities.
NC legislature has decided to withhold local sales tax revenue to pay for the extra 25% that the federal government has required them to pony up AND local sales tax will pay the penalties for SNAP errors.
Simply put, cities and towns have no say in how SNAP benefits are paid nor do they have any control over that but NC wants to take money out of their local budgets to pay for someone else's mistakes.
Add to that, if the Ammendment passes, the state controls property tax as well.
I'm willing to bet that if the Ammendment passes, the state will pass a new bill in the near future, that all property tax goes to the state before it gets sent back down to counties and towns.
That way the state can withhold what they want from both sales tax and property tax.
So in summary, a new change was made without any public notice, that the federal government passed on the costs of SNAP to the state and the state passed that cost on to counties and towns, who have no say so in the expenditure of SNAP benefits.
So expect services like schools, law enforcement, fire department and others to take the hit. Some towns will be seriously impacted by this. Especially if they are small towns.
Yep...the state has your best interests at heart....keep thinking that.
Remember the words of Reagan.
" As government expands, liberty contracts".
"The answer to a government that is too big, is to stop feeding its growth".
Every Ammendment you vote for feeds the states growth. Increases its power.
It expands its control. If you trust elected officials from all over the state to have your best interests at heart more than your locally elected officials, you may be in for a rude awaking very soon.
This passing of the buck happened without any argument or public outcry.
It will happen again.

10/27/2026

10/24/2026

Just a reminder.
Farm preservation information meeting at Red Cross Town Hall, 176 East Red Cross Road. Oakboro NC
6pm this Thursday 10/29/2026.
Director of the NC Farm Preservation Division with the NC Dept of Agricultural will be presenting information and answering questions.

10/19/2026

So your thinking of voting on the NC Constitutional Ammendment to give Raleigh the local tax control.
Okay. To be fair, we work under state laws on everything from law enforcement to zoning.
Budgets are no different. Each year we have to have an independent audit and submit that to the LGC (Local Government Commission)
But this is more about control than oversight.
Let's look at the new laws going in this year that over rides local government control.
New state law over rides local zoning laws that set minimum amount of parking for businesses and other buildings in a municipality.
Means the state has told us we can't require the builder to create a set amount of parking spaces. Because it costs the builder too much money.
Another new law for cities over 50,000 people, like Concord or Monroe and Charlotte is that the city can no longer restrict the addition of another dwelling unit in property designated residential, regardless of lot size.
Meaning small tiny homes, mother in law suites and rental buildings can be placed on property within a subdivision as well as rural lots and the local government can't regulate that.
Senate bill 445 was passed into law.
It over rides local government zoning and allows for certain residential developments to be placed on or in non-residential zoning.
That means that we could have an area zoned commercial and the state says we can't deny someone the right to build a subdivision in that area if it meets certain requirements.
In addition, it tells local government that they can't limit the height of the building below 60 feet in these areas. Meaning tall apartments and town homes.
It also streamlines certain construction processes and lets developers start clearing, grading and installing infrastructure even before all local approvals and permits are acquired. Saving developers time and money.
Lastly, it extends the vested rights from 2 years to 5 years. Meaning the developer can move at any speed they desire and not lose their zoning approval for up to 5 years.
HB 382 restricts local government from "down zoning" properties.
Meaning we can no longer change lot densities or uses of properties without the written consent of all affected property owners.
That means Raleigh has told city and counties that you need the permission of a property owner to reduce the amount of homes they can put on their property if you want to zone it for fewer homes.
So, the state is pushing for more residential units and giving builders the keys to this state little by little. Notice all these new laws are about saving developers money?
The state thinks that will bring down the price of homes.
Don't like growth? Don't like all the homes spouting up?
Think the answer to stopping it is giving all the power to the state?
Good luck with that. The governor is fast tracking development across the state.
Think he will help you with your tax bill too?
Give it a shot. But Constitutional Ammendments are next to impossible to change.
Think Raleigh won't keep going after more local control? I'll take that bet.
How many of your state reps post information for you to read and understand?
Bet its very few. Better vote to keep the ones that do.

10/17/2026

Just a quick update on the most recent city council meeting.
It was a short meeting and only two items were brought up during planning and zoning.
The indoor athletic facilities presented by Travis Alley was brought before council.
Planning and zoning had previously reviewed the plans and made a favorable recommendation.
A public hearing was held and the plan was presented to the public.
There were no comments from the community present.
Council voted unanimously to approve the plan.
The second item was the pet grooming business Ms Rita Huneycutt was asking to put in the old store building at the corner of highway 200 and Bethel Church Road.
A public hearing was held following her presentation of her plan.
The planning and zoning board had previously given a unanimous recommendation for the approval.
No one from the community present spoke for or against.
The approval from council was unanimous.
In other matters, the Senior Center will hopefully be completed by November.
Landscaping in and around the Senior Center and library will be finished up to match the new landscaping in and around city hall. All plants being used are native to NC, unlike the previous plants and trees.
We are currently working on setting up leaf pickup for fall and winter.
The city approved the purchase of a truck with modular bodies that can be changed out for multiple purposes, including a leaf vacuum.
I will post once it becomes available and list the dates and information.
I will follow up with more info as it becomes available.

10/14/2026

Early voting starts today.
Polls are at Locust City Hall meeting room next to the library.
Election day voting will be at Locust School.
Your most important privilege as an American citizen is to vote.
A lot of people sit out the mid terms.
But every election and every vote is important.
I believe most people have their mind made up before they even get in the car to go vote.
But for those of you voting in a municipal election, please do a little research before voting on a candidate.
We have many well qualified candidates this year running for city council. Some are incumbents and some are members of the planning and zoning board.
The main thing to watch for is a single agenda candidate.
Especially when they have little or no understanding of your community or how local government works.
Some people will make it all too obvious that they have a single, personal agenda if you pay close attention.
Voters aren't stupid. Pay attention.
If you live in any of the local towns, you will probably find out all you need to know about a candidate by talking to your neighbor, a fellow parent or church member. Your hairdresser or barber. Or even the people doing your lawn care.
I'm not running this time around and I don't advertise candidates on this page.
I work with whoever you elect.
If you ask me in the store, or on the street, or at the gas pump or at the restaurant who I can work with or who I am voting for, I will gladly give you my opinion.
The voting isn't hard. Neither is asking questions. Both are extremely important.

10/14/2026

See this post going around?
Its false.
I'm not sure what the original poster is trying to accomplish.
Maybe they are trying to sow discord. When you ask for another ballot, you probably won't get one and this person is hoping you will walk away without voting.
Maybe they want people disrupting the voting process.
Notice is starts with "reliable good friend".
Thats your first warning sign.
Its just another version of "trust me bro".
Whatever the reason, its false propaganda.
Be careful what repost.
Fact: In NC, if an Election Worker Writes on Your Ballot, It Does Not Invalidate It | NCSBE https://share.google/JJnZbHl9gs9vAuJ3o

10/13/2026

Okay. A controversial topic.
The upcoming vote on NC Constitutional Ammendments.
Since I'm an elected official with local government, I'll give my 2 cents worth.
You vote how you feel, but please read up and ask questions and make an educated decision.
The Ammendment I'll speak on is the one giving the state legislature the ability to control tax rates and levies.
My first inclination is that this is another attempt by the state to standardize everything from one end of the state to the other.
The state has already circumvented local governments on development, zoning ordinances and residential development.
The Ammendment doesn't explain how the legislature will evaluate or determine what is excessive or fair.
Its very broad and open in its entirety and does not take in consideration local issues such as aging infrastructure or lack of economic development.
How will the state review every county and town across the state?
Will the same rules apply to Anson County that applies to Mecklenburg County?
What is the criteria? Scoring?
What about accessibility to elected officials and meetings?
Locally, you have a much easier time voting someone out of office if they don't meet your expectations.
You can't vote out someone who is elected to serve in the legislature that was elected 5 counties or more away.
And what happens when one County or.town gets an exception but yours doesn't because of their state elected officials?
Let me be clear. Not all state elected officials want full control. But many do.
Why is that? Is this going to be something that certain ones do to hurt some towns and counties while giving their towns and counties an advantage?
If approved, this becomes a constitutional Ammendment and next to impossible to reverse.
Thats the NO side of the equation.
How would I feel if it passes?
Well, the job is still the same.
And since Locust reduced the tax rate year before last, I don't think we are in the hot seat.
But our council is conservative. And our city manager is even more conservative than our Council.
So I don't think it will have much of an impact on Locust.
And honestly, it might make it easier for local government elected officials.
When people come to the county or town meetings to complain about taxes or services, they will have to make a trip to Raleigh instead.
Because that's where the decisions will be made. Local government will no longer control those decisions.
And in my opinion, this isn't where the push for state control will end.
Recent history shows the bigger the government the more power and control they want.
So whether you vote for or against this Ammendment, our job here in Locust will be to provide the best services at the lowest cost. That doesn't change.

10/06/2026

I have the public meeting with Director Evan Davis from the Farmland Preservation Division of the NC Dept of Agricultural set up for October 29th at 6pm.
It will be located at the Red Cross Town Hall located at 176 E. Red Cross Road, Oakboro NC 28129.
Information will be provided and answers to questions on putting farmland and forest property into permanent and limited preservation programs.
Its only fitting that we have this meeting at Red Cross Town Hall since they first presented the information from Mr. Davis at our recent COG meeting.
Red Cross is currently working on their Farm Park and this will be a good opportunity to learn more about that and about farm land preservation.
If the turnout and interest is big enough, I will work with Mr. Davis to set up another meeting in the near future.
I will try to contact everyone who has expressed interest in this event but if anyone else is interested, message me or comment on the post so we can get an estimate.
I will also post any follow up meeting dates.
Thanks for your interest.