This article explores North Carolina’s growing reliance on federal funding since the 1980s, compares these trends to neighboring states, and highlights the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) as a…
Formal budget negotiations between representatives from the North Carolina House and Senate have begun in what is known as the “Conference Committee.” This year’s budget is not like the rest,…
On Monday, the US Treasury Department released an “interim final rule” on what states can do if they take money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Based on the rule…
An analysis from Reason magazine finds that there is a significant variation in per-capita state and local aid contained in the latest Covid relief bill being debated on Capitol Hill.…
An uncertain economic time is not good for borrowing. If the state takes out debt and the post-COVID economy turns out to be smaller, then debt capacity will shrink and…
Other states have begun to worry about the coronavirus shutdown’s impact on their economies and state government finances. Energy producing states like Colorado and Texas must deal with plummeting oil…
“We might need a rating agency to threaten [North Carolina’s AAA bond rating] for us to see both sides return to the table in earnest.” Zagros Madjd-Sadjadi, an economics professor…
Care about education? Our expert, Dr. Terry Stoops, will part of the Tuesday night Hometown Debate panel — the first of three events — to discuss this key education issue:…
North Carolina ranks just above the middle of the pack among the states — at No. 21 — when it comes to fiscal solvency. That’s according to a new report…
View in your browser. The dust is settling following approval of the budget by both chambers of the General Assembly last week. It now awaits the governor’s signature to be…
The latest Barron’s cover story gives North Carolina relatively good marks in terms of its ability to meet its financial obligations (including long-term obligations such as government pensions). As Andrew…