• 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

    Buildings Don’t Teach Students: North Carolina should concentrate on what goes on inside the buildings

    posted February 26, 2007 by Dr. Michael Sanera
    Unfortunately for North Carolina’s students, most of the adult debate over schools has focused on where to find the money to build the schools to accommodate its rapidly growing student population. Last year several NC counties passed bonded indebtedness of nearly $1.5 billion and presently counties and the state are discussing more bonds totaling an additional $3.6 billion.
  • Press Release

    N.C. students don’t need big buildings

    posted February 26, 2007
    RALEIGH – North Carolina can avoid large, expensive school buildings while working to improve student performance. That’s the key finding in a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report. Click…
  • Research Report

    Johnston County’s ‘Dumb Growth’ Plan: The Growth Management Committee Fails to Understand Basic Economics

    posted January 21, 2007 by Dr. Michael Sanera
    The Johnston County Growth Management Committee (GMC) believes that rapid growth has outstripped the county’s ability to keep up with essential public services. To solve this problem, the GMC is recommending "smart growth" policies. The GMC is urging the County Commission to limit home building in rural areas to one home to an average of two acres. This is a 203 percent increase in the average lot size.
  • Press Release

    Johnston panel urges economic segregation

    posted January 21, 2007
    RALEIGH – Johnston County leaders would set up a system of “economic segregation,” if they adopt new recommendations from their Growth Management Committee. That’s the assessment of a new John…
  • Research Report

    Thomasville Tees Off: The city government has no business being in the golf business

    posted January 10, 2007 by Dr. Michael Sanera
    Over the past six years, Thomasville’s city owned and operated golf course experienced operational losses of over $3.6 million. With its course, the city engages in unfair competition with 18 private courses in the area. Private golf courses pay taxes that support government services; the city golf course does not. Unlike police and fire protection, golf is not an essential city service. If the course were sold, city taxpayers would gain the amount of the sale and avoid paying its average annual losses of over $600,000 per year. Also, a privately owned golf course would contribute to the tax base of the city and county.
  • Press Release

    Thomasville bogies away taxpayer money

    posted January 10, 2007
    RALEIGH – Thomasville could devote more money to essential city services if taxpayers stopped shoveling $23 toward every round of golf at the city-owned course. That’s a key finding in…
  • Research Report

    Mooresville Needs a Mulligan: The city government has no business being in the golf business

    posted December 3, 2006 by Dr. Michael Sanera
    Over the past five years, Mooresville’s city owned and operated golf course experienced operational losses of nearly $450,000. With its course, the city engages in unfair competition with six private courses in the county and 12 more courses in the surrounding area. Private golf courses pay taxes that support government services; the city does not. Unlike police and fire protection, golf is not an essential city service. If the course were sold, city taxpayers would gain the amount of the sale and avoid paying its average annual losses of $90,000 per year. Also, a privately owned golf course would contribute to the tax base of the city and county.

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