2008

For the second time, the Tyrrell County commissioners are asking county residents to approve a tripling of the land-transfer tax (from 0.2 to 0.6 percent), this time on November 4. This report identifies over $6.4 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — almost nine times the amount that the proposed land-transfer tax increase is estimated to produce.

RALEIGH — Cherokee County commissioners could avoid a proposed sales tax increase for 11 years by diverting almost $10 million in savings and existing revenue streams to high-priority county government…

RALEIGH — Columbus County commissioners could avoid a proposed sales tax increase for 15 years by diverting almost $14.2 million in savings and existing revenue streams to high-priority county government…

RALEIGH — A group pushing North Carolina lawmakers to adopt costly climate-change policies has made a serious error while trying to justify its proposals, according to a John Locke Foundation…

Dr. David Hartgen analyzes the Charlotte LYNX Line, finding, among other things, that final LYNX construction costs are about $521.9 million, about 130 percent above the initial estimate ($227 million), operating costs are about $9.22 million/year, and revenues are averaging about 31 percent of operating costs.

RALEIGH — Taxpayers are picking up more than 90 percent of the tab for a lucky few commuters riding Charlotte’s LYNX light-rail line, despite the trains’ limited public benefit for…

Despite claims to the contrary, North Carolina’s new drought management bill does not expressly prohibit the regulation of water use from private wells. In fact, the bill likely authorizes regulation of water use from private wells.

RALEIGH – North Carolina’s new drought management law likely would permit government regulation of private wells, despite claims to the contrary. That’s the key finding in a new John Locke…

In 2006, in recognition of the need to attract and retain experienced administrators and teachers who teach subjects (Math and English/Language Arts) that are part of the state and federal accountability requirements, Guilford County Schools, the third largest school system in North Carolina, initiated Mission Possible. The program offers recruitment and performance incentives for teachers and administrators who teach in the county’s low-performing and low-income schools.

North Carolina’s relatively high tax burden in the region has not improved the state’s schools, roads, health, or crime as much as would be expected. Per-capita personal income growth also lagged, though population grew faster in N.C. than in most other states.