Taxation & Economy
Stein announces top spending priorities before the fiscal year ends
Last year, North Carolina was the only state expected to pass a budget that failed to do so. In fact, the General Assembly never even sent a budget proposal to Gov. Josh Stein’s desk. One of the most contentious issues during…
North Carolina Medicaid after the OBBB: Policy prescriptions
In a previous article, I documented how total Medicaid expenditures in North Carolina surged from $18.14 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2021 to $35.77 billion in FY 2025 — a staggering 97.2 percent increase in just four years.…
Not all property tax levy limits are created equal
As the debate in North Carolina over how best to address property tax reform unfolds, levy limits are likely to take center stage as a viable policy option. Levy limits restrict the annual growth of total property tax…
Growth, Scarcity, and the Case for Deregulation
North Carolina enters 2025 with a housing market that is often described as “relatively affordable,” especially when compared to coastal states or Sun Belt peers like Florida and Arizona. But that framing masks a deeper and…
North Carolina designed a Medicaid program that it can’t afford
The North Carolina Medicaid program is on an unsustainable fiscal path. Data from state and national budget reports show that Medicaid expenditures have risen sharply, with growth evident across federal receipts, state…
Where are those manufacturing jobs we were promised?
Pres. Trump’s on-again, off-again, on-again tariff regime dominated the economic news in 2025. It was kicked off on April 2, a date Trump called “Liberation Day,” when the president announced his executive order imposing…
Possible Tariff War Over Trump’s Greenland Ambitions Would Hurt North Carolina Farmers
President Donald Trump’s stated desire to acquire the island of Greenland has caused tension with European nations that could result in a tariff war that would harm North Carolina farmers. Trump recently warned that eight…
North Carolina’s property tax reality
During the pandemic, property values surged across North Carolina, generating frustration among residents whose property tax bills have risen faster than their incomes. In response, the General Assembly established the House…
What is the role of a think tank?
Nonprofit think tanks serve a distinct role in public life by advancing enduring ideas and principled analysis — rather than engaging in partisan politics or short-term electoral strategy By educating both lawmakers and the…
Job announcements aren’t jobs
Gov. Josh Stein recently celebrated what his Commerce Secretary described as a “record-setting year for job creation” in North Carolina, citing tens of thousands of job announcements statewide. But announcements aren’t jobs —…
TRENDING
