Spending & Taxes

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.

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.

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.

Wind power is generated through large groups of massive industrial wind turbines, sometimes as tall as 50-story skyscrapers. Like the wind itself, wind power is intermittent and extremely unreliable. The wind must be strong enough, but not too strong, to generate power. So wind cannot be used for baseload generation nor to meet peak demand. For example, to avoid a blackout, a Texas grid manager recently had to cut off electricity to some customers, in large part due to a sudden drop in wind power.

Sixteen percent of all jail and prison inmates have serious mental illness. One in every 10 police encounters involves a mentally ill individual.

The Alexander County commissioners are asking voters to approve a quarter-cent sales tax increase on January 8. But the county has nearly $5.3 million over and above its base budget to meet its needs.

The UNC system has initiated few efforts to strengthen teacher-education programs. UNC universities should use their power as charter-school authorizers to create on-site demonstration or laboratory charter schools to improve teacher-education programs.

Water is a scarce resource and a commodity. Some water systems do not change water rates based on demand.

Tax increment financing (TIF) hides the diversion of funds from government services that is inherent in borrowing. It still puts taxpayers at risk for repayment and is more expensive than general obligation bonds or certificates of participation (COPs).