Amends GS 159-12 (pertaining to budget hearing requirements under the Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act) as follows.

Increases the number of hearings a local government must hold before adopting a budget ordinance to at least two public hearings on separate dates, unless the unit of local government has a population of less than 2,000, then the unit must only hold one public hearing (currently, all units of local government only need to hold only one public hearing). Specifies that at least one of those hearings must provide the public with certain detailed revenue information, including the following information for the prior two fiscal years: (1) tax rate; (2) tax base; (3) tax collection rate; and (4) with respect to each public enterprise fund, the rates charged, any amounts transferred from the general fund to the public enterprise fund, any amounts transferred from the public enterprise fund to the general fund, any debt service payments paid by the pubic enterprise fund, and the estimated completion date of those debt service payments.

Requires the Local Government Commission (Commission), when exercising its enforcement authority under GS 159-181(c) or (d) (pertaining to certain instances when the Commission has the authority to impound the books and records of a local government or local government water/sewer system), to hold a public hearing with the requirements set forth above. Allows the Commission to waive other hearings. 

Specifies notice requirements of the governing board to notify property owners of the public hearing discussing the revenue portion of the proposed budget when the proposed budget ordinance raises the tax rate from the previous fiscal year’s budget ordinance.

Specifies notice requirements of the governing board to notify users of the public enterprise fund of the public hearing discussing the revenue portion of the proposed budget when the proposed budget ordinance (1) raises the rates (including an increase in the rate and a change in base rates) charged by a public enterprise fund or (2) proposes a transfer of any amount from the general fund to the public enterprise fund.

Adds a requirement for a budget message to be filed and made publicly available along with the proposed budget ordinance. Specifies that the budget message must include tax rates and the change in those rates from the prior budget ordinance, all proposed fees and the change in those fees from the prior adopted fees, and other synopsis information the budget officer deems important, in addition to a general description.

Makes language gender neutral. Makes clarifying and conforming changes. Makes organizational changes.

Effective July 1, 2024, and applies to budgets adopted on or after that date.