Amends Article 9A of GS Chapter 153A, concerning special assessments for critical infrastructure needs of counties. Authorizes counties to impose special assessments (was, issue revenue bonds payable from special assessments) as provided in the Article on benefited property and to use the resulting revenues as provided in the Article. Provides that the Article expires July 1, 2020, for projects that have not been approved under a final assessment resolution, but this expiration does not effect the validity of assessments imposed or to be imposed or bonds issued or authorized under the provisions of this Article if a final assessment resolution has been adopted prior to the effective date of the expiration. 

Amends GS 153A-210.2 to allow the board of county commissioners of a county to make special assessments against benefited property within a county for the purpose of assisting in arranging for payment of (was, purpose of financing) capital costs of specified projects. Requires the board of commissioners to determine a project's estimated cost and the amount of costs to be paid from assessments (was, only estimated cost). Adds that costs can include expenses for the administration of assessments. Clarifies that the board is to establish an assessment method that will, in the board's judgement, accurately assess (was, method that will most accurately assess) each lot or parcel of land subject to the assessments according to the conferred benefit from the project for which the assessment is made. Makes conforming changes.

Amends GS 153A-210.3 by adding a new subsection (a1) to require the board of commissioners to adopt a preliminary assessment resolution upon the receipt of a petition for a special assessment as provided for under existing subsection (a). Sets out the required contents of a preliminary assessment resolution to be: a statement of intent, a general description of the project, a statement of the proposed terms of payment of the assessment, and an order setting a time and place for a public hearing on all matters covered by the preliminary assessment resolution. Requires the public hearing to be no earlier than three weeks and no later than 10 weeks from the day on which the preliminary resolution was adopted. Adds new subsection (a2) to require that the board of commissioners hear all interested persons who appear with respect to any matter covered by the preliminary assessment resolution at the public hearing. Authorizes the board to adopt a final assessment resolution no earlier than 10 days after the public hearing that directs the project or portions of the project to be undertaken. Requires the final assessment resolution to include the same parameters required in the preliminary assessment resolution in subsection (a1), except for the public hearing information. 

Amends GS 153A-210.4 to authorize a board of commissioners to provide for the payment of all or a portion of the cost of a project for which an assessment has been imposed from funding from private parties in addition to funding from other specified sources. Clarifies that the assessment resolution must include the estimated cost of the project to be funded from assessments and the amount of the cost estimated to be derived from each respective funding source. Adds new subsection (c) to allow the board to agree to impose one or more assessments in order to reimburse a private party for costs incurred by the private party if a board contracts with the private party to construct a project on behalf of the county as provided in GS 153A-210.7. Allows for an inflationary factor applicable during any period of abeyance provided under GS 153A-210.5. Clarifies that a board of commissioners cannot be obligated to reimburse a private party any amount in excess of assessment revenues actually collected less the county's related administrative costs.  

Amends GS 153A-210.5 to clarify that the annual installments of an assessment are due on the date that real property taxes are due. Further allows the board of commissioners to provide for the abeyance of assessments as authorized in Article 9 of GS Chapter 153A. Sets forth that the abeyance can apply to any assessed property. Requires annual installments to be deferred until the period of abeyance ends. Provides that the assessment is to be payable on the first annual installment payment date after the period of abeyance ends. 

Amends GS 153A-210.7 to provide that initial funding for the project may be provided by the public or private agencies. Provides that if no more than 25% of the estimated cost of a project is to be funded from the proceeds of general obligation bonds or general revenue bonds, excluding assessments imposed under Article 9A of GS Chapter 153A (previously, did not exclude special assessments), a private agency entering into a contract for the implementation of all or part of the county project is subject to Article 8 of GS Chapter 143 to the extent specified in that contract.

Makes conforming and technical changes throughout Article 9A of GS Chapter 153A.

Amends Article 10A of GS Chapter 160A, concerning special assessments for critical infrastructure needs of cities and towns. Makes changes to GS 160A-239.1, GS 160A-239.2, GS 160A-239.3, GS 160A-239.4, GS 160A-239.5, and GS 160A-239.7 relating to special assessments by a city council that are identical to those changes made to Article 9A of GS Chapter 153A by this act.

Effective June 30, 2017, and applies to assessments made on or after that date.