Alexandra Forter Sirota
Posts by Alexandra Forter Sirota
5 Things to Know About North Carolina’s Economy as 2026 begins
North Carolinians power our economy through their work every day, in every corner of the state — from growing and harvesting our food, to caring for and educating our children, to researching and developing new medicines and technologies that improve our lives. Their labor powers our economy. Yet, for many families, rising costs are making the…
Jan. 1: Tax cuts for the rich in NC — still no state budget
The New Year will bring little certainty to everyday North Carolinians. State legislators have failed to use the policy tools available to them to address rising costs for the basics, from food to child-care to housing. Instead of passing a state budget this year, state legislative leaders couldn’t agree to put people first. They are…
Slide deck: NC General Assembly Session Summary 2025
The NC General Assembly is done for the year. They missed the mark on addressing North Carolina’s priorities this session. Check out this slide deck summarizing the 2025 Long Session and where legislative leaders fell short. Download the PDF here.
Statement on NC Governor’s Call to Cancel Medicaid Reimbursement Rate Reductions from Alexandra Sirota, Executive Director of NC Budget & Tax Center
Millions of North Carolinians rely on Medicaid so their children can see a doctor, aging parents can get care in their homes and community, and families are supported to achieve the well-being we all deserve. Funding this care should be automatic — not tax cuts for the wealthy and big corporations. Today’s restoration of Medicaid…
Latest news on what’s going on with federal funding
Subscribe for text updates Updated 3 pm, Jan. 30, 2026 The federal funding deadline is today. Congress is again considering short-term spending plans that fail to address the real economic pressures facing families and states. Instead of prioritizing affordability and essential public supports, Congressional leaders are moving toward increased funding for the Department of Homeland…
From paychecks to rising costs: The real impact of a federal shutdown in NC
When the federal government shuts down, even partially or temporarily, there are a number of ways in which our daily lives can be impacted — from whether federal offices and national parks remain open to whether landlords get rent or families can put food on the table. Over time, those impacts tend to get worse…
Public Comment: Work First TANF State Plan
To: Allison W. Smith, Deputy Director Division of Social Services Economic and Family Services NC Department of Health and Human Services 2420 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-2420 From: NC Budget & Tax Center PO Box 25374 Durham, North Carolina, 27702 RE: Work First TANF State Plan Public Comments Dear Deputy Director Allison…
Connecting Historically Underutilized Businesses with public contracts
Who pays for transit? Why Mecklenburg’s sales tax referendum falls hardest on everyday people
Mecklenburg County will be asking voters to approve a sales tax referendum this fall to fund transportation infrastructure. Public investment in transit is essential to connect workers to employment, students to education and training, and communities to one another. The best way to maximize our collective investment in transportation is to make sure people with…
House Bill 87: The Educational Choice for Children Act
Download a PDF of this brief Opts NC into federal program benefitting wealthy HB 87 Summary: The Educational Choice for Children Act opts North Carolina in to the federal tax credit program for contributions to scholarship granting organizations and directs the State Education Assistance Authority to produce a list of eligible entities in North Carolina…