For this new year, NC lawmakers should resolve to put people above tax cuts | Opinion

How do I keep up with rising prices?

How do I pay rent, afford groceries, and still get to work?

How do I care for my kids — or my parents — without burning out?

And when do I get to stop surviving and start living?

As Jan. 1 arrives, North Carolinians are entering the new year asking these very questions and wondering whether 2026 will finally bring relief.

For too many people, those hopes collide with a harsh reality. North Carolina continues to rank last in the nation in quality of life for its workforce. Too many workers in our state earn wages that fall far short of what it takes to put food on the table, keep a roof over their heads and get to work. Leaving far too little time to enjoy life and plan ahead beyond survival.

The wear-and-tear of the constant balancing act that North Carolinians have been forced to endure shows up in outcomes we would expect: high levels of reported stress, complications from chronic disease and lower life expectancy. But it also shows up in quieter, more troubling ways — fewer young people forming families or buying homes, reduced participation in civic life, and declining confidence in the ability of elected leaders to make lives better.

Low individual well-being is no longer a personal struggle; it is putting our collective well-being at risk. The good news is that state policymakers have the power and the tools to ease the stress and strain of this economy that isn’t working for most of us. They can make life more affordable.

Here’s how: They can raise wages for working people by setting the minimum wage to keep up with the rising cost of living. They can stabilize child care by reimbursing providers for the true cost of delivering high-quality care — supporting working families, businesses, and early educators alike. They can expand affordable housing and keep local property taxes in check by sharing funds with local governments and providing relief at the state level.

But doing so requires a shift in priorities. For years, lawmakers have relied on tax cuts for the wealthy and profitable corporations as their singular economic solution, despite clear evidence that those cuts have not trickled down.

This Jan. 1, inaction on a state budget means another round of tax cuts will go into effect. In combination with the federal tax cuts that were made possible through cuts to health care and food assistance, the result is that the richest 1 percent of North Carolinians — households with average incomes near $2 million — will receive a combined $4.9 billion in tax breaks. The poorest 20 percent of North Carolinians will actually see their taxes increase.

As North Carolinians across the state make their resolutions for 2026, legislative leaders should do the same — by choosing to fund a future that works for everyone in our state, not just the wealthy few.

Alexandra Sirota is the executive director of the nonprofit NC Budget & Tax Center.

This story was originally published January 1, 2026 at 4:30 AM.