Special Features Archive

Bill in Congress would authorize $1.7B for public transportation in response to high gas costs

Without sufficient alternatives to driving, American families spent their entire economic stimulus check on high-priced gas. According to new analysis from the North Carolina Public Interest Research Group, since President Bush signed the tax rebates into law on February 13th, the average household spent over $1500 filling their tanks. Gas costs were higher than average in areas without robust public transportation.

Americans 55 and over pay $4.5 billion in fees annually for overdraft loans they haven’t asked for and typically don’t want, a new study by the Center for Responsible Lending finds. Of that, nearly $1 billion is stripped from people heavily dependent on Social Security income.

Hopefully, the budget conferees will continue to not follow the Senate’s lead because the Senate’s proposed budget is fiscally irresponsible and does not target the limited dollars available at the needs of low- and moderate-income working families – the people most affected by the current downturn in the economy.

Putting the Pieces in Place: A North Carolina School Readiness Report examines the key aspects of school readiness in North Carolina—Ready Children, Ready Schools, and Ready Families and Communities. The report uses data indicators to determine North Carolina’s current degree of school readiness, providing a baseline which can be used in the future to measure progress.

A report released today by the Annie E. Casey Foundation of Baltimore, Md., ranks North Carolina 38th in the nation—a slight improvement from 39th in 2007—on 10 keyindicators of child well-being, including family income, health and education.

The 21st Century Transportation Committee and some legislators are seeking to take over $170 million from the General Fund by stopping the so-called transfer from the HighwayTrust Fund (HTF) going to the General Fund.A portion of the HTF is transferred to the General Fund every year as relief for the revenue gap created by 1989 legislation that established the HTF - legislation which re-routed carsales-tax revenue from the General Fund to the HTF.

Governor Mike Easley’s recommended state budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year, which begins July 1st, was released on May 12. The governor’s proposal includes $1.2 billion in new spending, as well as spending reductions and excise tax increases to reach a balanced budget. The budget balances recurring appropriations with recurring revenues, resisting the temptation to use the significant amount of one-time funds for recurring expenses.

North Carolina needs further accountability on economic development spending

A new report examining North Carolina’s economic development spending says that while state spending is rising sharply, tax breaks are growing to represent nearly all of the state’s economic development stimulus. The report, released today by the national nonprofit Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) was previewed yesterday in testimony before the North Carolina Joint Select Committee on Economic Development Incentives by authors Bill Schweke and Frank DiSilvestro.

North Carolina is one of 21 states with a law that permits corporal punishment in the public schools. Yet, it may be the only state that does not monitor the administration of corporal punishment.

Child Poverty in North Carolina: A Preventable Epidemic highlights the stunting effect poverty has on children’s cognitive development, academic success, health outcomes and opportunities to improve economic circumstances.

The NC Budget & Tax Center released a new report calling for a study that defines what is necessary to provide all children in NC with a sound, basic education and the cost of the programs and total cost to satisfy that constitutionally proscribed responsibility.

Thousands of North Carolina families don’t earn enough to meet a basic family budget, thanks in large part to the growing number of low-quality jobs. However, changes to state policies can help these families build more financially secure futures.

Low- and Moderate-Income Workers Pay More than the Wealthy, but Policy Changes Could Improve Fairness

The poorest 20% of North Carolina households pay a larger share of their family incomes in state and local taxes than any other income group, while the wealthiest households pay the smallest share. This is one of the key findings from a new study released today by the North Carolina Budget and Tax Center.

NC Budget and Tax Center Lays Out Recommendations for Reform

North Carolina will need to change how it pays for roads and how it sets its transportation priorities if it is to effectively deal with the population boom expected in the coming decades. That is the conclusion of a new report for the NC Budget and Tax Center (BTC).

Action for Children's newest report discusses the latest scientific research on adolescent brain development, showing that while teenagers may physically resemble adults, neurologically, their brains are still developing and are extremely susceptible to environmental influences.  The report also finds that…