Economic activity can be disrupted by any number of unanticipated emergencies, ranging from natural disasters to virus outbreaks like COVID-19. When these events threaten the survival of small businesses, the owners may turn to government for assistance. One legal and effective way for a government to assist a small business with weathering a crisis is by providing an emergency loan. The loan allows the business to maintain operations when cash flow is severely constrained due to disruptions in demand. Loans are a common tool in these situations.

COVID-19 has arrived in North Carolina and units of local government across the state are facing tough questions as they purchase goods and services.  This post addresses some of the legal issues under North Carolina law confronting local procurement officials.May a unit of local government legally award contracts in the “formal” bidding range if it does not hold a publicly accessible, in-person bid opening?

COVID-19 has arrived in North Carolina and units of local government across the state are facing tough questions as they purchase goods and services.  This post addresses some of the legal issues under North Carolina law confronting local procurement officials.May a unit of local government legally award contracts in the “formal” bidding range if it does not hold a publicly accessible, in-person bid opening?

Tax administration is obviously not at the top of any local government’s list of pandemic concerns.   But social distancing and other remedial measures made necessary by this public health crisis are creating some unusual challenges for tax offices.  This post addresses a few of the pandemic-related questions I’ve received from tax officials in the past few days.
Are local governments required to keep their tax offices open to accept property tax payments in person?
No.

Tax administration is obviously not at the top of any local government’s list of pandemic concerns.   But social distancing and other remedial measures made necessary by this public health crisis are creating some unusual challenges for tax offices.  This post addresses a few of the pandemic-related questions I’ve received from tax officials in the past few days.
Are local governments required to keep their tax offices open to accept property tax payments in person?
No.

We’ve all heard the stories about travelers having their temperatures taken at the airport. COVID-19 may soon be circulating widely enough in North Carolina that there will be pressure on employers to monitor the health of employees who report to work. Monitoring employee health can take a number of forms. This blog post will discuss the lawfulness of each in turn.
Background

We’ve all heard the stories about travelers having their temperatures taken at the airport. COVID-19 may soon be circulating widely enough in North Carolina that there will be pressure on employers to monitor the health of employees who report to work. Monitoring employee health can take a number of forms. This blog post will discuss the lawfulness of each in turn.
Background

Among the myriad concerns local governments and community members are facing during the covid-19 global pandemic is ensuring access to water for citizens. An important front-line defense to prevent the spread of the disease is to wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Among the myriad concerns local governments and community members are facing during the covid-19 global pandemic is ensuring access to water for citizens. An important front-line defense to prevent the spread of the disease is to wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Yesterday, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that it was a matter of when, not if, the new coronavirus would begin to affect communities here in the United States. “It’s not so much of a question of if this will happen anymore but rather more of a question of exactly when this will happen,” Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said in a news briefing.