Unit 3: State & NC Taxes

What We Pay It’s important to participate in govt We help to support the govt by paying taxes Receive services as a result Property Tax Tax on real estate Corporate Income Tax Tax on the profits of businesses Personal Income Tax Tax on individual earnings Sales Tax Tax on sale of most goods & services Estate Tax Tax on estate of someone who died Excise Tax Tax on production or sale of certain goods & services (beer/wine, gas, cigs, pop…)

What We Pay States gain revenue ($) from ppl in other ways Fines, licenses, permits, user fees, disposal fees (leaving trash) States also get $ from fed govt Usually grants that don’t have to be repaid Intergovernmental revenue - $ from local, state, & govt sources

Benefits & Consequences of Freedom Self-determination: ppl can work for & live the lives they want Ability to make choices: Political choices & political activism Economic choices – determine socioeconomic status Legal choices – to obey the law & take legal action Justice Consequences: “Freedom is not free” Accountability & responsibility

Public Policy Citizens can affect public policy by being active in govt & being informed Voting Local initiative – begin a movement to pass a law Petition Referendum – form of initiative; having the ppl vote on a law Recall elections – way to remove elected officials if ppl are not satisfied

Being Informed & Knowing the Law An informed citizenry is impt to democracy Ppl need to know the law – “Ignorance of the law is no excuse” Ways to be/keep informed: Town meetings – any meeting of a local/municipal body Public forums Public hearings