Lawmakers have passed a new state budget that will serve as a roadmap for how North Carolina will operate for the next two years — unfortunately, this roadmap has numerous potholes and an unclear destination. It does not reflect the spending decisions that can drive better economic outcomes or strengthen the connection to opportunity for every community across the state.

Today at 1:00 p.m., the North Carolina Senate Finance Committee will take up the Senate’s latest tax cut proposal – a bill that flies under the dubious official title: “Billion Dollar Middle Class Tax Cut.” As was explained in this space earlier this week, there are a number of important reasons why new income tax cuts are a bad idea for North Carolina at this time – not the least of which are: a) their proven ineffectiveness in stimulating the economy and b) the fact that they will further shift the responsibility for funding government away from the wealthy and profitable corporations and onto individuals of low and moderate income.

North Carolina Senate leaders continue to march our state down the path to a zero income tax. That goal was set by powerful outside interests who wanted North Carolina to follow their plan to establish a “tax free South.” It is a goal without purpose other than to eliminate the programs and services that have connected more people and places to opportunity over the years. It is not an economic strategy that works for our state or any other.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper unveiled his proposed two-year budget plan today. The Governor touted his proposal under the heading “Common Ground Solutions” and stated that it would make “critical investments in education, health care, economic development and public safety…without raising taxes or fees, cutting services, or borrowing from special funds.”

Hurricane Matthew has caused extensive damage to the very foundations of communities in eastern North Carolina. While not getting the attention that Floyd did in 1999, it is actually much larger in scope, with 20,000 more homes damaged or destroyed than in 1999. In the face of such devastation, there is opportunity to rebuild our communities stronger than before if North Carolina leaders plan for smart investments.

Every year as students from pre-school through college return to the classroom, North Carolinians have a window through which to see how our collective investments match up to the needs of communities.

Are classrooms crowded? Are children ready for Kindergarten? Do schools have the resources to deliver a 21st century education? Do parents need to provide more and more personal resources to fill the gaps?