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A property tax limit could cost our communities millions
Local governments across North Carolina — from the mountains to the coast — face growing costs from inflation, changing needs, lagging infrastructure, and state and federal policy decisions that have pushed costs to their communities. In November, voters will see a proposed change to the constitution on the ballot that could limit the ability of…
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,…
Income tax limits would deepen racial inequity in NC
No matter who we are or where we live, North Carolinians believe that everyone – Black, brown, and white – should have the opportunity to thrive, support their family, and plan for the future. Our tax policy decisions have the power to level the playing field and fund the public services that help us all…
NC workers fuel our economy. Tax cuts do not.
Working people power the economy. Their labor delivers critical services to make all of our lives easier, creates new products and technologies, builds roads and infrastructure to connect us, and provides the care that heals our communities. If the economy is strong, it should support the people who make it possible. But when policymakers choose…
Tax cuts hurt public schools in North Carolina
As North Carolina’s public school students, teachers, administrators, and staff return to the classroom for another school year, tax cuts that have benefited the wealthy few and profitable corporations are shaping their experience and limiting their educational opportunities. It doesn’t have to be this way. North Carolina has the wealth to fund public education so…
New analysis: Property tax proposal would block $950M for local governments
New analysis from the NC Housing Coalition confirms what we knew about the proposal to put stricter limits on property tax collections in the state Constitution through a ballot measure this fall: It won’t deliver relief to homeowners struggling with unaffordable property tax bills, but it will significantly reduce local governments’ ability to deliver services…
Reflections on my summer internship with the NC Budget & Tax Center
This summer, I had the opportunity to serve as a Community Building Intern with the NC Budget & Tax Center (BTC). I believe this experience has given me a greater understanding of how research, data, and community engagement work together in public policy, which will benefit my studies as I enter my senior year at…
North Carolina’s tax cuts will cost $900 million. Here is what families lose.
After leaving North Carolina without a comprehensive operating budget for a year, state lawmakers finally approved a spending plan for FY 2026-27. Yet, despite having ample time – and broad public support across party lines – to address affordability concerns, lawmakers made only modest changes to the scheduled personal income tax while preserving the continued…