Research Brief
Budget, Taxation & Economy
A City Government’s Incompetence May Force a State Takeover of Its Finances
Long-term incompetence in the Elizabeth City Finance Department has led to financial woes for the city.
Beth Wood
Elections & Public Integrity
Finally I Can Agree: There Ought To Be a Law
It’s common sense. And it should already be state law, but it’s not. Not yet anyway. Senate Bill 473 would prohibit types of conflict of interest and questionable actions in…
Research Brief
Regulation
Fighting Corruption Is Not Racist
An investigation by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor exposed corruption and incompetence in the city government of Rocky Mount. State Senator Lisa Barnes has introduced legislation that…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
How Politics Turned in a Week and Cooper Suddenly Lifted Most Covid Orders
Last week, Gov. Roy Cooper and his administration had made it sound as if his mask order would last for several more months. Then on Friday, May 14, Cooper eliminated…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
New Audit: Lack of Oversight Means an “Increased Risk” Covid Funds were Misused
Did North Carolina spend its $3.6 billion in Covid relief funds for their intended purpose? Did the spending yield positive results? According to a newly-released audit by State Auditor Beth…
Education
Employee association membership figures released*
*N.C. Association of Educators (NCAE) not included. Here is the latest from State Auditor Beth Wood: As far as the NCAE is concerned, Wood…
Research Brief
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Closing shop at PED
Program Evaluation Division has served a useful purpose, but it was limited in what it could recommend. Partisan staff can more easily identify solutions, provide strategic advice, and answer “why”…
Research Brief
Education
How Education Saving Accounts can help solve learning loss
Learning loss from pandemic-driven loss of in-person instruction in public schools is a serious problem, and its impacts vary by race, income, and geography. Education Savings Accounts offer an alternative…
Education
New Carolina Journal Online features
Julie Havlak reports for Carolina Journal Online on State Auditor Beth Wood’s concerns about potential misuse of special COVID-19 education funding. Becki Gray’s Daily Journal outlines 10 lessons learned from…
Elections & Public Integrity
This weekend on Carolina Journal Radio
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper will serve a second term as North Carolina’s top executive. But three new Republicans will join him on the Council of State. Rick Henderson analyzes key…
Research Brief
Transportation
The NCDOT budget is full of cracks, potholes, and detours
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has long had the worst budget in state government. The agency receives appropriations in a year, counts each dollar based on general purposes,…
Education
Mark Johnson accuses State Board of Education members of executing contract illegally
In a June 11 letter to State Auditor Beth Wood, Superintendent of Public Instruction Mark Johnson calls out State Board of Education members Eric Davis and J.B. Buxton for executing…