Bringing Transparency to Hidden Taxes
North Carolina excise taxes generated $2.4 billion in revenue in FY2011, amounting to 13 percent of total tax revenue collected. They are used to manipulate choices freely made by taxpayers.
The Power To Heal Through Consumer-Driven Medicaid
Medicaid’s ineffective utilization of its unpredictable budget has left the state facing a budget overrun of more than $248 million. Consumer-driven Medicaid reform emphasizes principles of choice, competition, and fiscal responsibility for beneficiaries and providers, giving patients would be able to choose benefits and services that best fit their medical needs from multiple health plans with defined block grants.
N.C.’s Common Core-based English tests disregard grammar, spelling, mechanics, and usage
Contrary to the Common Core State Standards themselves, Common Core-based tests developed by the NC DPI include relatively few English language questions and no traditional grammar, spelling, mechanics, or usage questions. Legislators and the members of the State Board of Education should ensure that the state adopts a testing program that places a greater emphasis on these areas.
What Government Costs in North Carolina Cities and Counties FY 2011
Counties and towns are critical levels of gov- ernment in North Carolina, providing or admin- istering many services while taking in billions of dollars of revenue. This is especially true as the state government has increasingly shifted more taxing authority to localities to make up for money kept by the state. While the importance of county and municipal government is great, obtaining compara- tive data is difficult. To help address this problem, By The Numbers provides information on how much local government costs in every city and county in North Carolina.
JLF plan redirects funds, cuts taxes to create jobs
For the last 30 years North Carolina has seen spending grow three times faster than population and inflation. The bottom-line spending figure for JLF’s 2013-14 General Fund budget plan is $20.1 billion, $490 million less than the governor’s proposal. In the second year of the two-year budget plan, JLF’s proposal would spend $560 million less than McCrory’s plan. This budget offers 19 specific policy recommendations in K-12 education, early childhood programs, public safety, Medicaid, transportation, and state employee benefits.
Taxpayers on the hook for special indebtedness
The last statewide General Obligation Bond referendum was held in 2000; all debt since then has been issued without voter approval, making special indebtedness the sole form of debt in North Carolina since 2001. Special Indebtedness is more expensive than traditional General Obligation debt, thus creating a larger burden on taxpayers. Certificates of Participation (COPs) are the most favored form of special indebtedness.
Answers for North Carolinians
The Common Core State Standards Initiative has attracted considerable attention from the state and national media, and North Carolinians have begun to consider how these changes will affect their public schools. The purpose of this primer is to introduce North Carolinians to the Common Core State Standards by answering some of the most frequently asked questions about common standards and tests.
This event is to benefit the Upper Room Community Scholars Program--a fundraising program designed to provide partial scholarships for families in need.
For complete information about the Evening with Ben Carson click here.
John Locke Foundation analysts and staff have traveled to every corner of North Carolina. We’ve listened to your greatest hopes and worst fears for our state, and we’ve heard a consistent message: You want JLF to be a more prominent resource in your community.
JLF's regional clubs will host meetings for like-minded conservatives, on your home turf. We'll bring you events with well known thinkers and writers, give you reports on our activities and new research, update you on issues that impact your neighborhood and wallet, and learn more about the threats to liberty you face in your city and country.
We have established 7 regional clubs covering every part of North Carolina.
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May 23, 2013
Standardized testing has provided little evidence justifying school districts' cash outlays for individual student laptops or tablets, especially in early grades.
May 09, 2013
The governor's plan for transportation funding allows smarter spending of the money we now collect.
May 02, 2013
With an early summer adjournment expected, lawmakers have only a few months to make good on campaign promises to get our economy moving, stimulate long term growth, and create jobs.
Sep 06, 2012
The N&O buries the one moment of real drama at the Democratic National Convention.
Mar 21, 2012
The world's media found the neo-Nazi meme in stories about the school shooting in France just too enticing.
Jan 16, 2012
In a Sunday piece, <i>The Charlotte Observer</i> employs all the steps used by the mainstream media to mislead readers.
