MEDIA RELEASE: Elon Poll shows public supports vital investments in North Carolina’s future


Together NC, a budget coalition of more than 115 organizations, says this shows North Carolinians are “ready to invest in economic recovery”

 

RALEIGH (Nov. 19) – A significant majority of North Carolinians support raising revenue to close the state’s budget gap, a new Elon University Poll found.


A statewide coalition working on budget issues says that this show people are willing to protect the vital investments that protect North Carolina’s people and economic future – even with lawmakers facing a budget gap of more than $3.5 billion.


“This confirms what we already know: people value North Carolina’s essential public investments enough to raise the revenue we need,” said Louisa Warren, a coordinator of TogetherNC who also works with the NC JusticeCenter.


Together NC is a coalition of more than 115 nonprofits, service providers and community groups that urge North Carolina lawmakers to take a balanced approach to closing the budget gap.


“A cuts-only approach won’t put North Carolina on a path to economic recovery and people recognize that,” said Alexandra Forter-Sirota, Director of the NC Budget & Tax Center, another key TogetherNC partner. “North Carolinians want an economy that works and sustaining public investments is key to getting the economy running again.”


The survey showed that more than 6 in 10 North Carolinians support an increase in the sales tax by 1 cent per dollar spent. The poll results are available here:


http://www.elon.edu/e-web/elonpoll/111910.xhtml

http://www.elon.edu/docs/e-web/elonpoll/111910_PollMethodology.pdf


Trying to balance the budget with cuts alone would not only fail, TogetherNC representatives say, it would harm North Carolina’s people while impeding economic recovery.


“The worst thing we can do in this recession is try to cut our way out,” said Warren. “Slashing state jobs would drive up unemployment and imperil key education and public safety efforts just when we need them the most.”


For more information about TogetherNC, visit www.togethernc.org


FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Louisa Warren, Together NC Coordinator, 919.856.2183 (office), Louisa@ncjustice.org; Alexandra Forter Sirota, alexandra@ncjustice.org; (919) 861-1468; Jeff Shaw, communications director, NC Justice Center, 919.863.2402 (office), 503.551.3615 (mobile).

 

Issues: 
State Budget