NC Budget & Tax Center

Funding for Hurricane Helene disaster recovery is on hold until state lawmakers come back to Raleigh and pass a state budget. It’s over 7 months overdue ...

It's time to pass a well-being budget that helps NC thrive, #NCGA. blackchronicle.com/s...

graph showing North Carolinians with the lowest incomes pay 10.5 percent of their income toward total state and local taxes, a much greater share than the richest, who pay the lowest share of their income at just 6 percent.

Have you been told that income tax cuts will provide relief for NC residents like you? Sadly, that’s a misleading claim.

Learn how continued tax cuts have created a tax system that makes our lowest-earning residents pay a larger share of their income in taxes. ncbudget.org/fact-ch...

Fact Check: The Reality of Tax Cuts - NC Budget & Tax Center After more than a decade of continuous cuts to income tax rates, North Carolinians across the state are feeling the negative effects of lost revenue, an upside-down tax code, and growing inequality. Despite these lived experiences, some lawmakers and pundits continue to peddle myths about taxes. It’s important that people have the tools and resources…

NC is feeling the effects of lost revenue, an upside-down tax code, and inequality due to tax cuts that primarily help corporations & the wealthy few. Yet some lawmakers continue to promote myths about how these cuts help our communities.

Let’s figure out what's the truth.

School choice programs grow in popularity — and cost States are scrambling to meet rising demand for newly expanded school choice initiatives.

$500 million this school year — that’s how much NC tax dollars have gone to school vouchers that help wealthy families pay for private schools, instead of strengthening our public schools. How does this invest in the future of NC’s next generation?

Health insurance coverage is at risk for hundreds of thousands of NCians, due to federal Medicaid cuts & the #NCGA's failure to address funding gaps. Healthcare leaders warn of major impacts, especially in underserved areas like Western NC, if NCGA continue to ignore our well-being. @CardinalAndPine

Change in Marital Status Became More Common Reason for Moving from 2021 to 2022, Housing/Neighborhood Improvement Reasons Declined New U.S. Census Bureau data product shows changes in reasons for moving and types of moves between 2021 and 2022.

Lets trust what people say about why they move to certain states. For more than 20 years, accessible housing, family, and jobs have been the most consistent reason why people relocate.

What's not on the list? Low income tax rates. www.census.gov/libra...
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2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates & Brackets Individual income taxes are a major source of state government revenue, accounting for more than a third of state tax collections. How do income taxes compare in your state?

Supporters of tax cuts argue that lower income tax rates attract more people.

SC was ranked the fastest growing state in 2025 and it had some of the highest state income tax rates in the South, with a PIT of 6.2 percent and CIT rate of 5 percent.
taxfoundation.org/da...
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U.S. Population Growth Slows Due to Historic Decline in Net International Migration U.S. population growth slowed to 0.5% between July 1, 2024, and July 1, 2025, according to the newly released Vintage 2025 population estimates.

The latest migration data highlights the importance of investing in our communities.

NC must adequately fund child care providers, schools, housing, and medical professionals to meet the needs of our growing population.
www.census.gov/newsr...
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calculator with "tax" on screen

Do YOU know fact from fiction when it comes to your taxes...?

We’re kicking off Making Connections 2026 on March 18 at 6:30 PM with a session focused on busting common tax myths related to North Carolina tax policies and how they impact our communities ncbudget.org/makingc...

Greensboro Responds to Potential ICE Detention Plans Recently released documents include a proposal to use the site of the former American Hebrew Academy to detain immigrants.

Federal dollars should be invested in programs that provide real safety to our communities-access to affordable healthcare and housing, and food assistance.

Not opening even more ICE detention centers that cause harm and pain for immigrant families. #LoveNCFundNC

Rep. Butler, NC Progressive House Caucus call for amendment requiring timely state budget - WWAYTV3 Rep. Deb Butler and the North Carolina Progressive House Caucus are calling for a constitutional amendment that would require the state to pass a budget on time in future legislative sessions.

This is a step forward in ensuring a fair, transparent budget process that holds #NCGA lawmakers accountable to North Carolinians. It’s shameful that we’ve gone more than 200 days without a state budget, which has made life more difficult for our communities. #LoveNCFundNC

#Childcare is essential for working NC families. Without adequate funding to pay workers and make child care more affordable, our communities will suffer. #NCGA must fund child care now! #LoveNCFundNC www.dailytarheel.com...

#NCGA lawmakers should listen to our #education leaders’ demands and fund the future of NC students. Instead, they continue to cater to corporations and the wealthy few with more tax cuts. #LoveNCFundNC www.newsobserver.com...

NC’s population is growing, and so is the demand for public services.

We need a state budget that adequately funds the resources our state needs to thrive. That starts with ensuring corporations and the wealthy few pay what they owe in taxes. #LoveNCFundNC www.dailytarheel.com...

NC Board of Education pushes for higher teacher pay, moratorium on Opportunity Scholarships The North Carolina State Board of Education has approved its annual list of funding request priorities ahead of the General Assembly’s short session in April.

NC public schools are falling behind, and our education leaders are demanding more funding to improve the well-being of our students and teachers. #NCGA should listen and invest in quality education for everyone in NC. #LoveNCFundNC

What’s one way our tax dollars can improve life in NC? By funding more supplies that keep us safe & warm during the next winter storm.

Our taxes can do good in NC. We just need to ensure our state budget invests in what matters most to us. #LoveNCFundNC www.newsobserver.com...

Poll shows most North Carolinians concerned about rising prices, everyday expenses • NC Newsline North Carolinians of all political stripes say they're having difficulty affording regular monthly expenses, according to a new survey by Catawba College and YouGov.

From housing to health care, North Carolinians are seeing basic necessities become increasingly unaffordable. #NCGA lawmakers can do something about this — starting by passing a state budget that centers our well-being and priorities. #LoveNCFundNC

crowd of people carrying bad bunny overhead

photo of Bad Bunny forming a heart with his hands

bad bunny dancing on top of white pick up truck surrounded by dancers

bad bunny and lady gaga dancing with each other

"The only thing more powerful than hate is love." We agree, Benito—so let’s start showing some love for NC by fighting for a budget and tax system that centers nuestras comunidades, not corporations and the wealthy few. #superbowl #badbunny #nc #ncpol

budget with money with question marks around

⌛#NCGA lawmakers have kept us waiting on a state budget for more than 200 DAYS!

Enough is enough. North Carolinians deserve a well-being budget that addresses the needs we see in our communities and invests in our future. #nc #ncpol #economy #budget

Work, Wages, and Well-Being: Understanding North Carolina’s Labor Market - NC Budget & Tax Center Work, Wages, and Well-Being UPDATE: The NC Budget & Tax Center is committed to updating this page with the most current labor market data. However, due to ongoing federal government shutdowns, the release of data continues to be irregular, and so our usual cadence may be delayed without prior notice. Understanding North Carolina’s Labor Market…

New local data is updated on our labor market page! Check it out here:

Healthcare costs increase as budget impasse continues North Carolina remains the only state in the country without a comprehensive budget for the 2025-2027 biennium. Without a fully updated budget, public programs, such as Medicaid, lack the necessary funding to succeed, and residents are bearing the brunt of the state legislature’s impasse with increasing healthcare costs. “North Carolinians who rely on Medicaid are...

Without a state budget, the health care programs and hospitals that help rural communities in NC get the care they need are in jeopardy. No state budget means dire consequences for NC families.

Economy for All 2026: An evening of connection and collective imagination - NC Budget & Tax Center Community members, advocates, workers, and policy leaders gathered in Durham for the NC Budget & Tax Center’s (BTC) Economy for All 2026 on Jan. 22, an evening grounded in a shared belief that North Carolina’s economy should value each of our humanity and provide real opportunity for everyone.   Watch a recording of Economy for All 2026 and see photos from the event here. The night began…

Missed Economy for All 2026? Catch up on our discussion about North Carolina’s economy and how it should value our well-being and provide real opportunity for everyone. ncbudget.org/economy... #nc #northcarolina #economy

NC’s Affordable Care Act navigators try to help clients find insurance despite funding cuts NC Newsroom- Angela Baker-Hill knew she needed to sign up for health insurance again when lab results over the summer showed that her kidney disease had progressed slightly. Baker-Hill had stopped …

Federal cuts have slashed funding for public programs like the NC Navigators Consortium, which helps people find accessible healthcare. Instead, they face staff shortages while the demand for their services increases. How does this improve NC’s well-being?

😠 North Carolina deserves better than this.

We should have a state budget that serves our communities by funding the things we need to live to our full potential, not one that continues to cater to the rich and corporations. #LoveNCFundNC

Healthcare costs increase as budget impasse continues North Carolina remains the only state in the country without a comprehensive budget for the 2025-2027 biennium. Without a fully updated budget, public programs, such as Medicaid, lack the necessary funding to succeed, and residents are bearing the brunt of the state legislature’s impasse with increasing healthcare costs. “North Carolinians who rely on Medicaid are...

Consequences of a delayed state budget?
💰Insufficient funds for public health care programs
⚕️Lower access to health care due to staffing
🧑‍⚕️Burnout among health care staff

We need a budget that centers well-being, not profits #LoveNCFundNC

NC’s Groundhog Day has gone on for years: Cut taxes, starve services, repeat | Opinion North Carolina is trapped in a time loop much like Bill Murray in the 1990s classic Groundhog Day — but with a tax cut twist.

"NC is trapped in a time loop much like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day—but with a tax cut twist. Each year, the alarm goes off. Again. And again, income tax rates are cut—primarily benefiting the very wealthy and out-of-state corporations" - @ncbudget.bsky.social

www.newsobserver.com/opinion/arti...

NC Republicans’ Tax Policy Has Been Tried Before - Carolina Forward Summary:

Tax cuts in NC primarily benefit profitable corporations and the wealthy few while draining revenue from public services like schools and hospitals and contributing to our high poverty rate. Tax cuts are starving NC, not helping us. #LoveNCFundNC

What NC needs is action, not just hope for change. Lawmakers must come back as soon as possible to pass a comprehensive state budget that stops automatic tax cuts and invests in the public programs that improve the well-being of all NCians. #LoveNCFundNC

www.newsobserver.com...

Who's ready to vote for the best pie in NC? (and learn how we can fix bad tax and budget policies?)

Join us for a pie bake-off event where we will learn how we can grow our “pie” of public money so we can all thrive in NC: NCBudget.org/PiDay

NC is trapped in a time loop much like Bill Murray in the 1990s classic #GroundhogDay — but with a tax cut twist. Each year, the alarm goes off.

Again. And again, income tax rates are cut — primarily benefiting the very wealthy and corporations. www.newsobserver.com...