Pardon Our Dust
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This morning Governor McCrory released his 2013-2015 budget recommendations for the state of North Carolina:
3 Main budget focus areas: Economy, Education, Government Efficiency
– Most state agencies see an average of a 1-3% budget reduction
– Total state budget including federal dollars: $49.6B
– For 2013-14, 55.6% of GF goes to Education; in 2014-15, 54.9% to Education
– Anticipated $139M surplus at the end of the year
– Governor will study efficiencies in state government, “may see more changes than normal in a short session in 2014”
– Governor supports revenue neutral personal and corporate income tax reform
– Budget anticipates revenue-neutral tax reform
– Tax reform will be submitted by separate legislation
– Adds $400M to the Rainy Day Fund (puts fund to $813M total)
– Repeals the Estate Tax
– $10M for Eugenics Compensation
– 1% pay raise for State Employees and Teachers
– 1% cost of living increase for retirees
– $77M to fix and upgrade the state’s IT system
– $150M into Repairs and Renovations of government facilities, $50M earmarked for UNC system
– $20M to rebuild Disaster Relief Reserve
– Repeal of the NC Public Campaign Fund
– Repeal of the NC Political Parties Financing Fund
COMMERCE & JOB CREATION
– $14M for JMAC fund.
– $76.2M over 2 years for JDIG.
– $5.8 for Dept. of Commerce to develop an economic development branding strategy.
– $2.9M each year for a new strategy for economic development in the state, including for marketing.
– $1.8M for Main Street Solutions fund- support small businesses and job creation.
EDUCATION
– Hires 1,800 additional teachers over 2 years.
– $28M in 2014-15 to implement the Excellent Public Schools Act.
– Out-of-State tuition increases for UNC-CH, NCSU, UNC-W, NC A&T, UNC-C, UNCSA of 12.3%.
o Tuition freeze for in-state students.
– $28M to improve third-grade reading scores.
– $43M over 2 years for digital learning.
– $625,000 over 2 years for establishment of the Center for Safer Schools.
– $42M over 2 years to develop high-cost college programs for in-demand jobs like electronics and mechanics.
– $63M over 2 years for the UNC system’s state strategic plan.
– $52.4M additional dollars over 2 years for Pre-K; adds 5,000 additional 4-year-olds.
– $34M over 2 years to expand technology in schools.
– $28M over 2 years for technical equipment in community colleges.
HEALTH
– $13M in additional dollars to mental health.
– $30M to help open new Broughton Psychiatric Hospital.
– $575M in additional money over 2 years for Medicaid- commitment to reforming and strengthening.
– $180M to establish Medicaid Risk Reserve.
PUBLIC SAFETY
– Closes 5 prisons: Wayne, Duplin, Bladen, Robeson, Western (saves $54M over 2 years).
– $7.2M to reinstate the Drug Treatment Courts.
– $500,000 for more equipment and $3.1M to enhance DNA analysis in the State Crime Lab.
TRANSPORTATION
– $7.5 million for a new Economic Development fund to be used for highway improvements that promote safety and mobility initiatives.
– DMV reform: adding an Saturday service for 20 locations in 2013-14, expanding to a total of 30 locations in 2014-15.
o Adding self-service kiosks.
o Eliminating unnecessary exams.
Please contact the Raleigh McGuireWoods Consulting team if you have any questions or comments:
Harry Kaplan, Senior Vice-President
Jeff Barnhart, Senior Vice-President
Franklin Freeman, Senior Vice-President
John Merritt, Senior Vice-President
Johnny Tillett, Senior Vice-President
Bo Heath, Vice-President
Kerri Burke, Assistant Vice-President
Sarah Wolfe, Research Assistant
Katy Feinberg, Strategic Communications
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