Budget, Taxation & Economy
Tax Reform
Introduction For many years, economists and tax policy researchers maintained that North Carolina’s tax system needed a major overhaul. The system was a model of hodgepodge tax policy with high…
Bev Perdue
American politician and 73rd Governor of North Carolina
Research Brief
Education
It’s Time to Give NC Test Scores a Good, Long Look, Part Two
A previous brief identified some troubling trends in the most recent North Carolina student test scores. A deeper dive into the data reveals test scores by race. For years, education…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Ten Years Ago: Ended False Promises
In 2013, the new General Assembly held the sales tax at 4.75%, while expanding the base. Consumption-based taxes like the sales tax are more stable and less economically destructive than…
Education
Ending Payroll Dues Deductions — The Right Way
A bill to end payroll dues deductions for all public employees In North Carolina was introduced earlier this week. The legislation (SB-87), sponsored by Senators, Hise, Krawiec and Johnson, will…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
State Budget Writers Should Resist Temptation to Spend Surplus Funds
With recession possibly on the horizon, NC budget writers should resist temptation to spend current surpluses.
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Martin Center: No, the NC Legislature Hasn’t “Harmed” Public Universities
Last month, the Raleigh News & Observer laid out a series of articles questioning conservative leadership at the University of North Carolina System and General Assembly. The authors concluded that under this leadership, our public higher…
Research Brief
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Ten fat years
Over the last decade, state legislators held government growth to the rate of growth in inflation and population even while increasing spending on teacher pay and Medicaid. Their restraint made…
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Big Government, Big Price Tag – Part 3
“Keep your eye on one thing and one thing only: how much government is spending, because that’s the true tax. … The thing you should keep your eye on is…
Education
No, Republicans aren’t trying to “dismantle and warp the social studies curriculum”
Kim Mackey, a social studies teacher in Wake County, wants you to believe that the Republicans are trying to “dismantle and warp the social studies curriculum.” Mackey leaves a lot…
Liberty
‘Governor No’ extends his veto record
With eight new vetoes announced today, Gov. Roy Cooper extends his record for most pieces of legislation vetoed by a single N.C. chief executive. Today’s vetoes include bills to reopen…
Research Brief
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Cooper’s state budget gambit is reckless
Gov. Cooper’s risky bet to keep spending like it’s 2019, despite a $1.6 billion loss of revenue between March and the end of June, is reckless and irresponsible with taxpayers’…
Research Brief
Budget, Taxation & Economy
Economic analysis is essential to sound public health policy
As we struggle through the COVID-19 pandemic, our government has responded by imposing economically severe restrictions on our lives. In doing so, elected officials must remember that imposing costly public…