2007

The Brunswick County commissioners are asking voters to approve a 200 percent increase in the real estate transfer tax on November 6. But the county has about $75 million over and above its base budget to meet its needs.

RALEIGH – Goldsboro could devote more money to essential city services if taxpayers stopped subsidizing local golfers. That’s a key finding in a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report.

Over the past four years, Burlington’s city owned and operated golf course experienced operational losses of over $1.2 million. The city unfairly competes with 14 private courses in the area.

RALEIGH – Gastonia should get out of the golf-course business and focus on providing essential city services. That’s the key recommendation in a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report.

Over the past six years, Goldsboro’s city owned and operated golf course experienced operational losses of over $2.5 million. The city unfairly competes with seven private courses in the area.

RALEIGH – A Wake County school facilities study group has ignored research data that could help taxpayers save millions of dollars while building new schools more efficiently. The John Locke…

What follows is the minority report I submitted to the Wake County Citizens’ Facilities Advisory Committee on Thursday, September 13, 2007. Although I am a member of that committee, the chairs of the committee, John Mabe and Billie Redmond, denied my request to have this report included with the final committee report.

RALEIGH – Public school students in North Carolina face a growing number of course options, regardless of federal No Child Left Behind standards. That’s a key finding in a new…

In the era of No Child Left Behind, students have not been discouraged from enrolling in courses other than language arts and mathematics. Both the number of class periods and the number of students enrolled in most courses has increased in concert with enrollment growth. Nevertheless, elementary foreign languages and middle school health and physical education courses have been on the decline.

RALEIGH – N.C. counties ignore the economic benefits of growth when they pursue Adequate Public Facilities Ordinances. That’s a key finding in a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report.