Jennifer Nguyen
Posts by Jennifer Nguyen
What $950 million could mean for emergency response
When someone calls 911, we expect emergency responders to show up. This is because local governments make sure our public dollars are put to use to pay and retain workers who keep our communities safe and provide the essential equipment they need to respond — from fire trucks to personal protective equipment. But firefighters, EMTs,…
State teacher raises fall short; Local governments left to fill the gaps
State leaders have been touting the average 8 percent pay raise they delivered for North Carolina public school teachers, but that headline obscures how the state budget fell short: teachers are still not paid what they deserve and local governments are left to cover millions of dollars in raises. What did the state budget actually…
State leaders pass SNAP costs to counties while limiting their ability to pay
The harmful One Big Beautiful Bill, or H.R. 1, made deep funding cuts to SNAP and shifted more of the program’s costs onto states. Instead of stepping up to cover North Carolina’s new costs, state leaders chose to shift them onto local governments in the approved Fiscal Year 2027 state budget. Beginning in October 2027,…
2026-27 North Carolina Budget Report: Tax cuts for corporations and millionaires, and higher costs for counties and families
Note: Here are links where you can access the budget bill and the committee report. You also can see how members of the NC Senate and NC House of Representatives voted on the approved budget. Unless otherwise noted, the analysis in this report reflects SB 257 (2026 Appropriations Act) and not the subsequently passed technical…
State Tax Cuts Are Leaving Counties to Cover New SNAP Costs
In 2025, the federal government passed the harmful mega bill, H.R. 1, making deep funding cuts to SNAP while shifting new costs onto the state. At the same time, more than a decade of state income tax cuts have left North Carolina losing almost $18 billion in revenue each year, just as the state is required to take on these new costs. H.R….
Final Budget Preserves Tax Cuts While Shifting Costs to Counties and Families
On Tuesday morning, North Carolina lawmakers released their final budget for FY 2026-27 after leaving the state operating without a budget since July 2025. As previously reported, the budget makes only slight changes to scheduled personal income tax cuts and leaves untouched the continued reduction – and eventual elimination – of the corporate income tax….
New SNAP Error Rate Reveals Why North Carolina Cannot Afford to Limit Revenue
Starting October 2027, North Carolina could be responsible for paying $140 million in SNAP benefit costs, according to newly released U.S. Department of Agriculture data. Nearly 1.3 million North Carolinians will be counting on the state to fully cover those costs so they can continue putting food on the table. The need for food assistance will not simply disappear because North Carolina cannot afford to sustain it. If state…
North Carolina should focus on feeding families, not flawed SNAP error rates
Note: This resource was updated on June 10, 2026 so that it reflects the $58 threshold for inclusion in SNAP error rate calculations. Overview of H.R. 1 Error Rate-Based Cost Shift The harmful federal megabill passed in 2025, H.R. 1, made deep funding cuts to the SNAP program, risking access to food assistance for the nearly 1.3 million North Carolinians who need…
Paying election directors a livable wage supports our democracy
Why county election director salaries are important County election directors play a critical role in running efficient, secure elections and protecting voters. Their responsibilities include[1]: Procuring and maintaining election equipment Training, supervising, and directing the work of election staff Creating emergency plans Preparing department budgets and monitoring spending and financial records Supervising voter registration and…
You can’t have fair elections in NC without funding them
Adequate funding is essential to running our democracy. Elections involve more than what takes place on Election Day. They require year-round administrative work to maintain election infrastructure and prepare for future elections. Election funding makes it possible to: Keep voters informed about voting laws, polling sites, and key deadlines Develop and maintain voter registration systems Prevent, detect, and respond to cybersecurity and election fraud threats Provide documents, information, and training needed for candidates to file and run…