Budget update: For folks who follow the process of creating the states budget, this has been a more interesting year than most. This update will try to explain the recent changes to the state budget, the revenue package, and where the budget is headed next, but if you spot any mistakes, or have questions, please contact us. This week House Finance introduced bills to increase taxes and fees to raise 940 million though the final revenue package came to 784 million dollars in new taxes. As a result, Appropriations Committees made changes to the budget, to “restore” some of the cuts. In HHS Appropriations, 300 million was placed back in removing cuts including 4 million for Local Management Entities, 8 million for CAP MR/DD supplemental funds, 50 Million in state funded services, 7 million for direct payment processing to providers, 15 million in the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services continuation budget, 34 million for Medicaid personal care and 65 million to Medicaid provider rates (reducing the cut to around 3%). No funds were restored to group homes or community support. On Thursday, the House budget was debated for several hours and was amended to include the new revenue package. Second reading is at this point set to take place after midnight on Friday and third reading on Saturday.
Many of the recent budget documents can be found at www.ncleg.net on the left hand side of the page and at on the Fiscal Research page at http://www.ncleg.net/fiscalresearch/index.shtml
For a full list of restoration items go to http://www.stategovernmentradio.com/media/image/061109_Restoration_Package.doc (note that not all items in the final House budget be included here).
The House Budget report from June 10th can be found here http://www.ncleg.net/sessions/2009/budget/2009/budgetreport06-09-094thEd.pdf
Legislators Listened to Your Plea to Raise Taxes. Now Thank Them!
ACTION: Please thank these members of the House Finance Committee for voting in favor of a revenue package. This is especially important if you are a voter in their districts. They need to hear that they did the right thing.
Rep. Kelly Alexander, 107th Mecklenburg 919-733-5778 Kelly.Alexander@nclrg.net
Rep. Van Braxton, 10th Greene, Lenoir, Wayne 919-715-3017
Rep. Tricia Cotham, 100th Mecklenburg, 919-715-0706
Rep. Bill Faison, 50th Orange, 919-715-3019
Rep. Pryor Gibson, Anson, Union, 919-715-3007
Rep. Larry Hall, 29th Durham, 919-733-5872
Rep. Dewey Hill, 20th Columbus, 919-733-5830
Rep. Hugh Holliman, 81st Davidson, 919-715-0873
Rep. Sandra Hughes, 18th New Hannover, 919-733-5754
Rep. Earl Jones, 60th Guilford, 919-733-5825
Rep. Paul Luebke, 30th Durham, 919-733-7663
Rep. Bill Owens, 1st Camden, Currituck, Pasquotank, Tyrrell, 919-733-0010 Bill.Owens@ncleg.net
Rep Deborah Ross, 38th Wake, 919-733-5773
Rep. William Wainwright, 12th Craven, Lenoir 919-733-5995
Rep. Jennifer Weiss, 35th Wake, 919-715-3010
Rep. Larry Womble, 71st Forsyth, 919-733-5777
