• Press Release

    Scrapping special Charlotte tax would boost efficiency

    posted March 14, 2007
    RALEIGH – Charlotte could focus on real transportation problems and improve its bus system’s efficiency by scrapping a special half-cent sales tax. That’s a key finding in a new John…
  • Research Report

    A Better Bargain: Meeting North Carolina’s needs without a $1 billion tax hike

    posted February 27, 2007 by Joseph Coletti
    Budgets reflect priorities. When families face a new expense, they must cut back on another expense. Governments do not have this limitation. When legislators find they have spent too much or that there are new activities worth funding, they can raise taxes to make sure the budget balances and pass along the tough decisions to businesses, entrepreneurs, and families.
  • Press Release

    Lawmakers should nix tax-raising schemes

    posted February 27, 2007
    RALEIGH – North Carolina taxpayers would pay the price if state lawmakers endorse complex fund-raising schemes this year. That’s according to a new John Locke Foundation Policy Report. Click…
  • Research Report

    Bad Credit: State Earned Income Tax Credit would do little good at great cost

    posted February 18, 2007 by Joseph Coletti
    The Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) has helped single mothers escape poverty, but it has penalized married parents and is plagued by misunderstanding and fraud. A state EITC at five percent of the federal level would cost $66 million with the same problems but less impact. State tax credits should address problems in the federal tax code, such as the penalty against middle class parents who do not qualify for means-tested programs or against individuals who do not purchase health insurance through their employer. The state child tax credit addresses the former and a health insurance purchase tax credit would address the latter problem.
  • Research Report

    Billion-Dollar Tax Hike: Legislative Leaders Consider Spend and Tax Mash-Up?

    posted December 6, 2006 by Joseph Coletti
    Legislative leaders may be planning a nearly billion-dollar tax hike. The state would take one cent of the sales tax from counties and offer them the option to increase the local sales tax by one cent. To make the trade palatable, legislators would stop charging counties for 15 percent of Medicaid, offer an earned income tax credit for low-income workers, and cut the corporate income tax rate. Counties would also have more responsibility and flexibility in funding school and road construction. Legislators should look for savings in the state budget to pay for schools, roads, and Medicaid before passing the cost to taxpayers.
  • Press Release

    Deal would raise N.C. taxes nearly $1 billion

    posted December 6, 2006
    RALEIGH – Legislative leaders might try to use sleight of hand and a series of political deals to raise taxes by nearly $1 billion. That’s the conclusion of a new…
  • Press Release

    Common-Sense Health Insurance Reform

    posted October 16, 2006
    Click here to view and here to listen to Joseph Coletti discussing this Spotlight report. RALEIGH – North Carolina could make health insurance more affordable for everyone by…

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