New Poll: North Carolinians want lawmakers to fund families’ priorities, not more tax breaks for the wealthy

Majority say the economy is moving in the wrong direction, state policies benefit the wealthy, and tax cuts have not delivered for everyday people

RALEIGH — A new poll finds that North Carolinians believe the state’s economy is moving in the wrong direction for everyday people and that state economic policies are more likely to benefit the wealthy than working families.

The findings show a clear disconnect between the tax-cut agenda advanced by state lawmakers — including proposals to cap income taxes and restrict local decision-making on property taxes — and the priorities of North Carolinians, who want lawmakers to focus on affordability, quality schools, affordable health care, good-paying jobs, child care, housing, and other basics that help families thrive.

According to the poll conducted by Public Policy Polling from May 28-29 among 1,562 NC voters, 63 percent of North Carolinians say the economy is moving in the wrong direction for everyday people, while just 26 percent say it is moving in the right direction. Nearly 6 in 10 — 59 percent — say NC’s economic policies are more likely to benefit the wealthy, compared with only 24 percent who say they are more likely to benefit everyday people.

“North Carolinians are not confused about what is happening in their economy,” said Alexandra Sirota, executive director of the NC Budget & Tax Center. “They see costs rising, public systems underfunded, and policy choices that continue to benefit profitable corporations and the wealthy few. This poll makes clear that people want lawmakers to stop doubling down on bad-deal tax cuts that have not delivered for everyday families and start funding the priorities that help communities thrive.”

When asked what state legislators should focus on, North Carolinians overwhelmingly chose people-centered priorities over corporate profits. The top responses were improving the well-being of all North Carolinians at 32 percent, delivering quality schools, affordable health care, and good-paying jobs at 27 percent, and ensuring families can afford the basics and keep up with rising costs at 26 percent. Only 1 percent said lawmakers should focus on maintaining and growing profits and incomes for corporations and the wealthy.

The findings also show broad support for investing in people’s priorities over keeping taxes low for the wealthy and corporations. Some 65 percent said state government should invest more in education, infrastructure, and health care for its people, even if that means raising taxes on wealthy individuals and large corporations.

The poll also shows strong opposition to proposals that would eliminate income taxes in ways that shift costs onto families and communities. Sixty-eight percent say NC should keep the state income tax to fund things that benefit everyone, including affordable child care, public education, and affordable housing. Only 20 percent support eliminating the state income tax if it primarily benefits millionaires and corporations and increases sales and property taxes for everyone.

“Lawmakers have promised for years that tax cuts would make life better for North Carolinians and relentlessly pursued the elimination of income taxes in NC, but most people say they have not seen those benefits,” Sirota said. “Instead of locking more tax cuts into the constitution or shifting costs to sales taxes, property taxes, and local communities, state leaders should listen to the people they represent.”

On affordability, North Carolinians again rejected trickle-down approaches. When asked what lawmakers could do to make life more affordable, only 8 percent chose reducing income tax rates on profitable businesses and only 6 percent chose cutting taxes for wealthy individuals. By contrast, voters were more likely to choose limiting utility rate increases (38%), providing tax credits to middle- and low-income families with children (24%), and lowering housing costs by building more affordable homes (11%).

“These findings show that North Carolinians want practical solutions to rising costs, not constitutional handcuffs that make it harder to fund public K-12 education, health care, housing, and local services,” Sirota said. “The path forward is not more tax cuts for those at the top. It is a state budget that reflects the priorities of the people who call North Carolina home.”

For more information about methodology, please contact Mel Umbarger at [email protected].