STATEMENT: House budget underinvests in foundations of strong economy

Statement from Alexandra Sirota, Director, Budget & Tax Center

RALEIGH (May 18, 2015) — The House budget continues to ask less from the state’s wealthiest taxpayers and profitable corporations and more from everyday North Carolinians while underinvesting in the foundations of a strong economy.

By failing to pause the corporate income tax cuts and also prioritizing further tax breaks to big business, policymakers are missing the opportunity to build opportunity and ensure that where you are born does not determine your ability to do well as an adult. Investments in early childhood, education, job training, health care, and public safety ensure that North Carolina’s communities thrive.

While the House budget reflects some of these investments, there are many others—school nurses, affordable housing, professional development for teachers, community economic development—that don’t receive the funding needed to truly make an impact on people’s lives.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Alexandra Sirota, alexandra@ncjustice.org; Tazra Mitchell, Policy Analyst, NC Budget & Tax Center, tazra@ncjustice.org; 919-861-1451; Jeff Shaw, jeff@ncjustice.org, 503.551.3615 (cell).