We generally favor an annexation reform bill overwhelmingly approved this week by the N.C. House.

The bill, now headed to the Senate, would give eligible property owners a chance to stall the annexation of their community by petitioning the local government pursing that annexation.

A successful petition would freeze the process for a minimum of 36 months.

Presently, this state’s property owners have no such recourse if their community is selected for annexation by a town board or city council.

The measure, titled the Annexation Reform Act of 2011, also clarifies certain annexation procedures for local governments.

We contend property owners should have a say over whether they become subject to the property taxes of a neighboring town or city.

Annexation is a huge step for any municipality, raising questions about how to provide services — water, sewer, fire protection and more — to residents in an area that could be annexed.

Still, annexation is a necessary evil.

Towns and cities will wither on the vine if they don’t occasionally expand their boundaries and obtain more revenue from fees or property taxes.

Our concern with this bill is that it will embolden people who want to resist annexation despite the cost to neighbors who won’t benefit from city services if boundary lines are frozen by petition.

What we do like about this bill is that it puts the onus to sell a proposed annexation on municipal officials, who should be able to justify such a move even in the absence of public demands for an explanation.

Cities should be as prepared to defend annexation as the opposition is prepared to defeat it.