Carolina Journal Radio No. 813: Legislators loosen restriction on N.C. tax incentives

Legislators recently loosened restrictions on North Carolina’s targeted tax incentive program, allowing companies to claim as much as $16,000 for every job created in connection with a Job Development Investment Grant. That’s a 246 percent increase from the old cap of $6,500 per job. The change passed without much opposition in the General Assembly. But Jon Sanders, John Locke Foundation director of regulatory studies, explains why an increased reliance on targeted tax incentives means bad news for state taxpayers. Progressives argue that their policies are designed to help disadvantaged groups, including minorities and the poor. But Michael Jacobs, professor at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, has conducted research demonstrating how policies adopted by North Carolina’s most progressive local governments have ended up hurting the groups progressives say they want to help. Hurricanes Florence and Michael caused substantial damage in North Carolina, including the state’s agriculture and agribusiness. State Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler delivered a recent status report to state lawmakers. After 55 percent of N.C. voters supported a constitutional amendment requiring people to present photo identification when they head to their polling place, state lawmakers sought input about translating that new constitutional requirement into law. You’ll hear highlights from a public comment session tied to the debate over implementing North Carolina’s new voter ID requirement. Prospective charter school operators face a number of challenges as they try to set up their publicly funded, privately operated K-12 schools. Terry Stoops, John Locke Foundation vice president for research and director of education studies, has seen many of those challenges firsthand. Stoops and his wife are leading efforts to establish a new charter school in Wake County. Now that the school has reached its groundbreaking, Stoops reflects on the charter school development process.