The opinions expressed in this piece are solely the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carolina Journal or its publisher.
North Carolina has become one of America’s great economic success stories. Year after year, the state ranks among the nation’s best places to do business, attracting new employers, new investment, and thousands of new residents. That’s worth celebrating. But Greensboro’s latest budget serves as a reminder that economic growth isn’t free. Eventually someone has to build the roads, expand the water system, hire the police officers, maintain the parks, and pay for everything a growing community expects.
A largely new Greensboro City Council adopted its latest budget, positioning Greensboro with one of the highest municipal property tax rates among North Carolina’s major cities. The decision has triggered sharp criticism, prompted a controversial lawsuit, and reignited the familiar debate over taxes and government spending…