Appropriations are a key focus for lawmakers at both the state and federal level.

From a national perspective, the NC Chamber continues to support our federal partners as they push for pro-investment tax policies that allow businesses of all sizes to innovate, create jobs, and invest in their communities. Here at home, we are engaged in encouraging our legislators to prioritize growth when it comes to fiscal policy.

North Carolina’s business community believes in people who, with more money in their pockets, will invest in their small businesses and communities. Intentionality is what helped us secure our position as the best state for private-sector job growth. Let’s keep going. We must protect the favorable business climate that the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina is touting.

The NC Chamber is engaged with a number of countries as business leaders look for ways to invest in our state (there may even be an announcement coming that better connects North Carolina to our friends in Northern Ireland!). Leaders from around the world want to know how their investments will be treated in our state. That concern is shared by the businesses already investing in people and communities here. Continued investment requires certainty and predictability, bolstered by more cash in the pockets of small business. Visionary leadership rewards economic investment in people and recognizes it as the only way to sustainably manage our state’s growth.

Are we on a growth trajectory or a fear trajectory?

Stagnant, piecemeal fiscal policy and tax increases do not drive investment. The formula has worked and is working. Job creators need a clear, thoughtful, long-term strategy that protects our state’s investments and citizens’ pocketbooks.

The NC Chamber has said it for more than a decade; the franchise tax must go. It is an onerous tax on capital and, as The John Locke Foundation said, “it’s time to axe the franchise tax.” Pro-growth policies do not include double and sometimes triple taxing the same asset – or taxing a small business before it even makes a profit.

Similarly, we must be thoughtful about the corporate and personal rates. The transformative tax package passed in 2013 was strategic and included levers that worked together to create an economically competitive, job creating environment. It has served us well.

We urge bold, courageous leadership

As legislators look at our state’s fiscal policy, we urge them to protect hardworking people and provide them, and their employers, with certainty and predictability. Optimism and sound, growth-focused fiscal policy will continue to bring jobs and investment. Increased taxes will not, especially increased taxes on small businesses.

The NC Chamber shared this perspective on the N.C. Senate budget. As the N.C. House moves its proposal and we get closer to the conference committee process, the NC Chamber urges policymakers to think strategically and believe in the hardworking people in communities across our state.

As always, our team remains available to talk in detail with policymakers as they look to protect and advance our state’s leading job retention and job creating status.

Let’s not let piecemeal wins distract from long-term success. The time is now, believe in working North Carolinians and they will invest in their communities and employees so our state can continue to lead the nation.