Coletti

RALEIGH — While city government growth in Wilmington tracked inflation and population growth pretty closely from 2002 to 2007, Jacksonville‘s revenues climbed 24 percent faster than inflation and population. A…

RALEIGH — Nine of North Carolina’s 30 largest cities increased government revenues by at least 20 percent more than inflation and population growth rates from 2002 to 2007. Thirty-three counties…

RALEIGH — Asheville‘s city government revenue grew 23 percent faster than population and inflation growth would have predicted from 2002 to 2007. A family of four would have needed an…

RALEIGH — Charlotte‘s city government revenue grew 18 percent faster than population and inflation growth would have predicted from 2002 to 2007. A family of four would have needed an…

RALEIGH — Local governments across North Carolina tended to grow faster than inflation plus population growth would have predicted from 2002 to 2007. But Fayetteville‘s major 2005 annexation skews its…

This report documents the change in locally generated revenues of 98 North Carolina counties* and the 30 largest N.C. cities between 2002 and 2007. Locally generated revenues increased faster than population and inflation in 96 of 98 counties and 24 of 30 cities. In Union County, revenue increased 48 percent faster than population and inflation over five years. For that reason, many counties and cities are having financial difficulties because they have spent taxpayer revenues on unnecessary or low-priority projects.

The Avery County commissioners are asking county residents to approve a sale-tax increase on February 3. This report identifies over $10 million in revenue and savings the county could use to meet its needs; more than triple the amount that the proposed land-transfer tax increase is estimated to produce.

Tax revenue in North Carolina is volatile because of the dependence on income and sales taxes. Proper budgeting would account for the rise and fall in tax revenues over time.

RALEIGH — Rampant state government spending bears much of the blame for North Carolina’s current budget woes, according to a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report. State spending has…

RALEIGH — Anson County commissioners could avoid a proposed sales tax increase for 17 years by diverting more than $5.8 million in savings and existing revenue streams to high-priority county…