• Press Release

    State, local agencies need more online transparency

    posted May 13, 2008
    RALEIGH – North Carolina state agencies and local governments earn poor marks, when it comes to making budget and spending information available online. That’s the conclusion of a new John…
  • Research Report

    Fiscal Transparency in N.C.: Surveying state and local governments

    posted May 13, 2008 by Joseph Coletti, Chad Adams
    Citizens don’t have the ability to easily track how state and local governments spend their tax dollars — but they should. Budget information isn’t available online in easily searchable databases, but it should be. Citizens shouldn’t have to make special requests to obtain budget information.
  • Research Report

    Saving, Spending and Taxing: Governor proposes $1 billion in new operating appropriations

    posted May 13, 2008 by Joseph Coletti
    Gov. Easley proposed $21.4 billion in state appropriations for continuing operations in fiscal year 2009, up $1 billion (4.9 percent) from the final budget for fiscal year 2008. Combined pay increases, including one-time bonuses, for teachers and state employees total $594 million. Less than a fifth of the $400 million in spending reductions are much more than reclaiming money that would not otherwise be spent.
  • Research Report

    Does Greene need a sales tax increase?

    posted April 23, 2008 by Dr. Terry Stoops, Joseph Coletti, Dr. Michael Sanera
    The Greene County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies $3.3 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs and more than 19 times the amount than the proposed tax increase would produce.
  • Research Report

    Does Hertford need a sales tax increase?

    posted April 23, 2008 by Dr. Terry Stoops, Joseph Coletti, Dr. Michael Sanera
    The Hertford County commissioners are asking voters to approve a sales-tax increase on May 6. This report identifies nearly $6.2 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs — more than 11 times the amount that the proposed tax increase would produce.

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