Rainy Day Fund
The NCGA can and should do more to address the harms of COVID-19
This week, the General Assembly quickly introduced and passed additional COVID relief legislation, but in a process that lacked transparency in ensuring equitable deployment of public dollars. House Bill (HB) 196 appropriated the remaining $1.7 billion in federal money that was allocated to North Carolina in the Congressional relief package passed in December. While the bill took necessary action to ensure that state agencies can […]
N.C.’s ‘rainy day’ funds need a boost this Hurricane season and ahead of the next downturn
North Carolina legislators are considering a bill that would distribute dollars to some taxpayers from a revenue surplus coming in over conservative projections, due to the stock market gains of a few. This flawed strategy would distribute to individuals small amounts of funds that would instead have a much larger impact if applied to one […]
State lawmakers’ response to Hurricane Florence is an inadequate first step
In this morning’s special session, the NC House and Senate both passed the Hurricane Florence Emergency Response Act. The storm, which hit the North Carolina coast on Sept. 14, resulted in 39 deaths, power losses for 880,000 people, over 5,200 emergency rescues and evacuations, more than 1,600 road closures, and the displacement of thousands. The […]
The word is in: It is up to NC policymakers to lead on Hurricane Matthew recovery
When Hurricane Matthews hit North Carolina on October 8, severe flooding impacted more than 800,000 homes, more than 300,000 businesses, displaced 3,744 residents, closed 635 roads, and 34 school systems causing an estimated $2.8 billion in damage and another $2 billion in lost economic activity. The North Carolina General Assembly responded by allocating $200.9 million […]
Still waiting: Eastern NC needs a greater commitment to rebuild after Matthew
When it comes to helping North Carolinians recovery from the devastating flooding and damage following Hurricane Matthew, North Carolina leaders must commit to a significant investment that ensures communities are made whole and more resilient in the face of future natural disasters and economic downturns too. After the December legislation that made the first investment […]
Lawmakers seek to stash revenue away for a rainy day when NC needs an umbrella today
Policymakers seek to make changes to the state’s Rainy Day Fund. Two companion bills – House Bill 7 (HB 7) and Senate Bill 14 (SB 14) – have been introduced that would alter how deposits are made into the fund and that would place restrictions on the ability of policymakers to use the fund. A […]