Governor Cooper signs five bills into law
Governor Roy Cooper signed five bills into a law. Read the Bills in the article.
Business
State tax collections spike, opening door for tax-relief measure
North Carolina has collected more than $6 billion in state taxes than was originally forecast in May 2020 by state economists. That’s the finding of a report presented to members of the Joint Full Chairs Appropriations Finance Committee by the nonpartisan Fiscal Research Division at the General Assembly and the Office of State Budget and Management.
NCDHHS announces COVID-19 screening testing program to increase K-12 school health staffing and capacity
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is launching an expanded COVID-19 screening testing program to support public, charter and private K-12 schools in protecting students and staff from the spread of COVID-19. The program will launch in fall 2021 and schools can register to participate beginning in early July.
New revenue forecast projects additional $6.5 billion surplus by 2023
Economists in the Office of State Budget and Management and the General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division released an updated consensus revenue forecast today anticipating an additional $6.5 billion in state revenues through the next biennium.
German industrial automation company to build U.S. headquarters in Gaston County with $7.8 Million Investment
KNOLL America Inc., a supplier of conveyor and filtration systems, will create 31 new jobs in Gaston County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $7.8 million to locate a new U.S. headquarters operations and manufacturing facility in Gaston County’s Apple Creek Corporate Park.
Cooper again extends North Carolina’s mask mandate
Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper issued his first executive order of the pandemic in March 2020, at the time implementing a interminable state of emergency, a move that’s typically reserved for hurricanes and other natural disasters.
Users should pay for highways
As a fiscal conservative who thinks government is generally too large and taxes too high, I am grateful for the gas tax.
Chief justice highlights right of petition in N.C. Supreme Court ruling
The N.C. Supreme Court has thrown out a lawsuit against owners of an Orange County quarry. Chief Justice Paul Newby’s opinion in the case focuses attention on the fundamental importance of the right to petition government.
Governor Cooper announces two Judicial appointments
Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced two judicial appointments to Superior and District Courts across the state.
Senate passes sweeping tax cut package with 8 Democrats on board
The North Carolina Senate passed a Republican-led tax reform package Wednesday evening in a quick, 36-14 vote that drew eight Democrats to cross the aisle and vote in favor of the bill. House Bill 334 would raise the standard deduction from $21,500 to $25,500 for joint filers, which would take about a quarter of a million of the lowest-income North Carolinians entirely off the tax rolls. It also reduces North Carolina’s flat income tax rate for remaining taxpayers from 5.25% to 4.99%.
Governor Cooper commits to offshore wind power as North Carolina creates jobs by transitioning to a clean energy economy
Governor Roy Cooper today issued Executive Order No. 218 highlighting North Carolina’s commitment to offshore wind power as the state transitions to a clean energy economy. The Executive Order highlights the economic and environmental benefits of offshore wind and directs actions to help North Carolina secure the jobs and economic development associated with the industry’s estimated $140 billion investment over the next 15 years to develop projects from North Carolina up the Atlantic Coast.
Cutting corporate tax helps consumers
With negotiators for the North Carolina House and Senate confirming that they’ve agreed on the broad outlines of a state budget for next year, the prospect of ending the state’s 2.5% corporate income tax is one step closer to becoming reality. A phase-out is already in the Senate’s budget plan, and key House members have endorsed the idea.