Statement on NC Senate’s proposed budget by Alexandra Sirota, Executive Director of the NC Budget & Tax Center
The NC Senate has presented a budget proposal rooted in magical thinking and cruel cuts that will leave North Carolina unprepared for recessions, federal cost shifts, and climate disasters. This proposal fails to deliver the certainty and greater well-being that North Carolinians expect from a government that should be building an economy that works for everyone.
Instead of addressing projected state revenue shortfalls — shortfalls that state economists link directly to the scheduled tax cuts — Senate budget writers double down with even more tax cuts. This move will inevitably require deep reductions to essential programs and services, or asking working families to pay more than their share through increased sales and property taxes.
The Senate failed their own test for when tax cuts should move forward — so they simply discarded the test.
The Senate’s math doesn’t add up. With each additional rate cut, they tighten the fiscal bind on our state, compromising our ability to fund the things that people need to thrive.
Even more troubling, Senate budget writers openly admit to having done very little to prepare for looming federal reductions — particularly the cuts to health insurance and food assistance already being debated in Congress. This lack of planning suggests Senate leadership is not only willing to strip millions of their health care and access to affordable food, but also to let vital public services deteriorate — services that provide stability and support in people’s everyday lives.
North Carolinians deserve more from their leaders — more stability, more opportunity, and more accountability. The NC House must reject the magical thinking and fuzzy math of the Senate’s budget. Instead, House leaders should prioritize our state’s long-term stability by pausing corporate and personal income tax cuts and ensuring we’re prepared for the challenges ahead.
