JLF Research Archive
Showing items 51 to 75 of 96
Our public schools are struggling to meet the needs of special-needs students throughout North Carolina. During 2006-07 school year, less than 50 percent of high-school students with disabilities graduated in four years. A legislative analysis found that the state would save at least $3 million a year in the cost of educating special-needs students, so long as at least five percent of the special-needs students in public schools transfer to a private provider or facility.
North Carolina local government policymakers face many important challenges. This issue guide offers solutions to problems faced by the citizens of the state. The common thread in these recommendations is freedom. By increasing individual freedom, local governments can foster the prosperity of all North Carolinians.
To reach the City & County Issue Guide home page, click here.
The Greene County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $3.3 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs and more than 19 times the amount than the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Hertford County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies nearly $6.2 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — more than 11 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Rockingham County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies nearly $28 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — more than 16 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Tyrrell County commissioners are asking county residents to triple the land-transfer tax rate on May 6 (from 0.2 to 0.6 percent). This report identifies nearly $2.3 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — more than four times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Onslow County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $34.8 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — more than eight times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Wilkes County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies over $16.7 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — more than 11 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Wilson County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $23.2 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — more than 11 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Guilford County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies nearly $83.4 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — over five times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Ashe County commissioners are asking county residents to triple the land-transfer tax rate on May 6 (from 0.2 to 0.6 percent). This report identifies $9.4 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — nearly 10 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Gaston County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $54.4 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — almost 12 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Haywood County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $16.2 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — over 10 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Lincoln County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $26.3 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — over 17 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Nash County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $18 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — six times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Wayne County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $39.1 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — almost 15 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Duplin County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies about $17.7 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — more than 21 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Lee County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies almost $10.3 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — over 6.6 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Randolph County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $33.5 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — more than 13 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
The Stanly County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $23 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — over 16.7 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.
As one of the oldest forms of school choice in the United States, education tax credits empower low- and middle-income parents to choose schools that best meet their children’s needs. Cost-effective, constitutional, and consistent with federal and state tax policy, tax credits enjoy bipartisan support among education reformers and parents; in fact, the number of states with education tax credits has tripled over the past 10 years. Tax credits create a vibrant education marketplace by making private schooling affordable for low- and middle-income families seeking a fresh start for their children.
Last year’s 5.24 percent dropout rate was a four-percent increase from the 2005-06 school year and was the highest rate in seven years. Only 70.3 percent of students in North Carolina graduate in five years. Over the last ten years, the North Carolina General Assembly has repeatedly tried to address the troubling dropout problem with no apparent success. The latest initiative, dropout prevention grants, will likely have little short-term or long-term effect on the dropout rate.
When adjusted for pension contributions, teacher experience, and cost of living, North Carolina’s adjusted teacher compensation is $55,731, which is $5,401 higher than the U.S. adjusted average compensation and $4,811 higher than the U.S. adjusted median.
The UNC system has initiated few efforts to strengthen teacher-education programs.
UNC universities should use their power as charter-school authorizers to create on-site demonstration or laboratory charter schools to improve teacher-education programs.
Elected officials in Durham, Gaston, Macon, Mecklenburg, and Moore counties are asking voters to approve school construction bonds that will increase an already high tax burden on low and middle income homeowners in these counties. Local governments have failed to implement the full range of school facilities alternatives and strategies that could accommodate enrollment growth without imposing additional taxes and long-term debt on taxpayers.
