Research Reports: 2008

The Lincoln County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $26.3 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — over 17 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.

The Haywood County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $16.2 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — over 10 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.

The Ashe County commissioners are asking county residents to triple the land-transfer tax rate on May 6 (from 0.2 to 0.6 percent). This report identifies $9.4 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — nearly 10 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.

The Gaston County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $54.4 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — almost 12 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.

The Duplin County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies about $17.7 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — more than 21 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.

The Randolph County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $33.5 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — more than 13 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.

The Stanly County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $23 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — over 16.7 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.

The Lee County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies almost $10.3 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — over 6.6 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.

As one of the oldest forms of school choice in the United States, education tax credits empower low- and middle-income parents to choose schools that best meet their children’s needs. Cost-effective, constitutional, and consistent with federal and state tax policy, tax credits enjoy bipartisan support among education reformers and parents; in fact, the number of states with education tax credits has tripled over the past 10 years. Tax credits create a vibrant education marketplace by making private schooling affordable for low- and middle-income families seeking a fresh start for their children.

Greenways are linear parks that benefit users with opportunities for exercise and enjoying nature. However, costs would be forced on homeowners by the City of Raleigh without any countervailing compensation. Users of the greenway, on the other hand, would receive benefits without incurring costs commensurate with the benefits received.