A budget compromise

Public Education

• $225 million cut for grades 4-12 with local officials deciding how to cut without changing the average class size for grades K-3
• $48 million cut by delaying math textbook purchases in grades 6-12. Next year: moratorium on all new textbooks expected (will save $115.4 million)
• $38.3 million cut by eliminating funding to help students who perform poorly on certain statewide tests
• $12 million cut by eliminating 200 literacy coaches

Community colleges/higher education

• $14 million cut, but does not affect programs involving retraining unemployed workers
• $72.9 million cut for universities by targeting senior & middle management, centers and institutes, low-enrollment degree programs, faculty workload, speaker series and institutional trust fund
• In-state & out-of-state tuition increased by either $200 or 8%, whichever is the lower amount, at all UNC institutions (will raise $34.8 million)
• Reduce funding to university centers & institutes by $13.7 million for specific campuses

Health and human services

• $12.9 million cut - eliminated 350 positions within the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services
• Reduced funding for local mental health, substance abuse and physical disability service providers by $40 million
• Reduce funding to help counties administer public assistance programs by $5.5 million

Natural and economic resources

• Eliminate 70 vacant positions in the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources (will save $3.4 million)
• Clean Water Management Trust Fund will be cut by $50 million each year for 2 years
• Dept. of Commerce must sell the state's King Air plane and reduce all costs associated with operating it, including a pilot position, to save $148,000 this year and $296,000 next year

Justice and public safety

• Eliminate 187 Department of Correction positions by cutting $8.1 million
• Close 7 small prisons (will save $8.4 million this year and $22.3 million next year)
• Increase SBI Crime Lab fee assessed on convicted criminals from $300 to $600. Impaired-driving cases make up the bulk of the money generated by the fee. (will raise $195,000 year this year)
• Cut $4.8 million by eliminating 27 work crews that provided free labor to state and local governments

Taxes

• Individual income surcharge of 2% on married couples whose taxable income is between $100,000 and $250,000 and 3% on married couples with a taxable income of $250,000. (will raise $172.8 million)
• 3% surcharge on the profit tax paid by corporations (will raise $23.1 million)
• 1 cent sales tax increase (will raise $803.5 million)
• Sales tax on digital downloads and Internet purchases (will raise $11.8 million)
• 10 cents tax for cigarettes, 2.8% tax increase for other tobacco products, 5 cents tax increase for a six-pack of beer, 4 cents tax for a bottle of wine and 5% more per bottle of liquor (will raise $68.8 million)

Fees

• Marriage license fee increase from $50 to $60
• Bail bondsmen license increase from $100 to $200
• Fees paid by HMOs to operate increase from $250 to $500
• Child care licensing fees increase from $35 to $52 for small operations and from $400 to $600 for the largest facilities
• Convicted criminals who have a court-appointed lawyer will be charged a $50 appointment fee
• Defendants who fail to appear at court will pay $200 instead of $100
• Convicted criminals whose cases included SBI Lab testing would have to pay $600

News & Observer

Interesting Fact!

As I'm researching North Carolina Grange history for the National Grange, I came across this interesting piece of information.

"More than 90% of the organization's objectives were attained during the session of the 1941 General Assembly. 'The Grange was the only registered lobbyist for farmers, and someone from our Order was there every day,' remarked [Harry] Caldwell."

Tax Free Weekend

August 7 - 9 marks North Carolina's tax free weekend.
For a list of all items which are tax free this weekend, please visit the NC Dept of Revenue's website - found here.

Happy shopping this weekend!

Astroturf

If you've been watching the news, you've seen commentators and news reporters talking about allegations from the Obama administration that opposition to the health care reform bill backed by liberal Democrats is a product of manufacturing. The term "astroturf" was used. If you have heard my presentation on the Grange legislative program, you're familiar with this term. I contrast astroturf with grassroots. Astroturf movements are artificial or manufactured with no roots. Grassroots are rooted in people and grow naturally.

I'm very proud that our organization prides itself on its grassroots nature. Our policy positions are truly a product of our members - beginnnig on the local level. While I disseminate information to our members, it is far from manufacturing any type of movement. As you listen to the news about this issue, keep the Grange in mind. If you talk with people in your community about this, talk about the Grange. Let them know that you're a member of an organization which is truly grassroots... and that they're welcome to join too! It seems as though everyone's political senses are heightened a little bit more these days and our legislative involvement and activities can be used as a membership tool for your Grange.

State Fair

Advance tickets are now available for the NC State Fair.
Check out the special prices here.
Check out Deep Fried @ the State Fair: the official blog of the NC State Fair

Annexation Reform

The Senate is planning to take up annexation reform. We were unsure if they would even listen to the bill because it contains a vote. While the vote is potentially useless, it could have stopped the Senate from even listening to the bill.

Take a look at an article written by Daren Bakst with the John Locke Foundation- published in the Wilmington Star-News. We are engaged in a coalition alongside the John Locke Foundation.

Inching closer to a budget

Tax Deal

House and Senate negotiators have pushed the ball forward again on a tax deal, nearing an agreement that could end a budget stalemate that has now lasted nearly a month into the fiscal year. "We're close, but we're trying to work on the details to get to the $990 million," said Sen. David Hoyle, D-Gaston. Hoyle indicated that House and Senate Democrats had decided against trying to placate Gov. Beverly Perdue by raising even more taxes to restore public school cuts. Legislative leaders had met Wednesday morning with Perdue, and negotiators said that she had been involved in the most recent talks.

Perdue helped scuttle a deal on taxes last week, criticizing legislators for applying an income tax surcharge to all taxpayers with income tax liability.

She also called for more revenue, money that might have gone to restore teaching position cuts in grades 4-12. Legislators seemed to be heeding the criticism about the income tax surcharge. Sources indicated that the deal being considered could put the income threshold at $100,000 before the surcharge applies. Instead of a 2-percent surcharge, the rate may be raised to 3 percent in order to hit the revenue target. Beyond those changes, House Democrats indicated the proposal isn't vastly different than the agreement which fell through last week.

That plan included an additional 1-cent sales tax and increases on cigarette, beer, wine and alcohol taxes. The two sides are also considering a special session this fall to examine comprehensive tax reform, apparently as a part of the deal, sources said. Democrats in both chambers emerged from closed-door caucuses late Wednesday sounding optimistic that they would reach a final, lasting agreement on a tax plan. As House Democrats completed their caucus meeting, negotiators from the House and Senate immediately began huddling in a nearby office. "We gathered feedback in the caucus,"

said Rep. Paul Luebke, D-Durham, a co-chair of the House Finance Committee.

"We just have some details to work out."(THE INSIDER, 7/30/09).