ABOUT THE BUDGET AND TAX CENTER

North Carolina is facing unprecedented challenges as our state continues to rebuild from the Great Recession.  Failure to map out a pathway that will continue to ensure the education of our children, the health of our families and elders and the well-being and safety of our neighborhoods and communities is not an option.  To inform North Carolinians, the Budget and Tax Center analyzes pressing budget, tax and economic decisions facing the state and local communities with an eye to ensuring that economic opportunity is expanded for all.

The Budget and Tax Center’s work focuses on three primary areas:

Budget  – The state budget is the primary tool North Carolina uses to increase economic opportunity, support working families, and make investments in education, health, infrastructure, the court system, and other important public structures. The Budget and Tax Center is the only organization that does analysis of key state spending proposals to determine how they would affect North Carolina’s communities, families, and economy.

Tax  – Tax revenues support public investments and therefore are the cornerstones of effective public structures and prosperous communities. The Budget and Tax Center analyzes state tax policies to determine if they will lead North Carolina to the creation of a revenue system that is adequate, stable and fair.

Economy  – The Budget and Tax Center tracks economic data and analyzes state policies regarding poverty, economic and workforce development, and community opportunity. We also look at how proposed changes could expand or inhibit access to economic opportunity, and we develop proposals to support economic growth.

About Us

The Budget and Tax Center conducts non-partisan analysis of state budget and tax policy and monitors economic conditions in the state. We produce timely and accessible research that contributes to policy discussions and public debate, with the goal of building a broader understanding of the role of policy in supporting economic opportunity for all.

Our Goals

• Educate state policymakers and the general public about how state and federal policies affect the ability of low-income and disadvantaged communities to achieve economic security.
• Analyze state investments in public structures, programs and services to determine if they are adequate to promote economic opportunity in North Carolina’s disadvantaged communities.
• Publish detailed analyses of state budget and policy proposals and, when necessary, promote alternatives that can improve the economic security of low-income North Carolinians.
• Ensure the state and federal tax systems are fair in what they require low-income families to pay, are stable despite economic cycles, and raise enough revenue to adequately fund vital public structures.