Tax Policy and Education Policy Both a Mess in NC
This week I had the opportunity to delve deep into two of the central policy issues we will be facing this year at NCSJP: state tax policy and education diversity policy. Having been working on both of these issues for many months now, the realities and research came as no surprise, but the combined enormity of the problems is almost overwhelmingly large, and both in the same week almost too much to digest. Just a few high (or low) lights:
Tax Policy
North Carolina is in the red – big time. The projected budget shortfall for FY ’10 is around $1.3B, and without substantial changes to the FY ’11 budget, we are looking north of $5B in unfunded spending. Without significant revenue enhancements very quickly, we are in for draconian budget cuts that will, predictably, hurt the most vulnerable among us. There will be more about this in the coming months, but prepare for some grizzly scenarios before the budget process is completed this Summer.
Education Diversity
We all know what’s been going on in Wake since last October, and many opinions have been heard, many facts have to been thrown in both directions, and many experts have weighed in. Each side has parts of their argument that appeal to a broad basis of residents, and now decisions are being made. No matter which way you personally feel about the Wake County diversity policy, there is no question about how it will end up, because another school system has already made the same policy decisions - that system is Charlotte/Mech. So, let’s stop pretending we’re “experimenting” and simply decide what we want for our schools, since the outcome is all but certain. Choice “A”, or Choice “B”. That’s it. Highly diverse schools, or de-facto segregated schools. Schools that are good for all, or schools that are good for some. That is the choice – let’s at least be honest about it.
We have some very difficult choices to make in the coming months and years, and our reactions will shape the course of our State for decades to come. Let’s steel ourselves and prepare now, so we are not overwhelmed when we have to react – because we’re not going down without a fight.
The North Carolina Social Justice Project (NCSJP) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that researches the causes of, solutions to, and advocates for the elimination of, the widespread social inequality among traditionally under-represented groups in North Carolina. While these problems manifest in a variety of ways, NCSJP tackles problems in four major areas: Human Rights, Education, Housing, and Finance. For more information, please visit www.ncsjp.org
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