Legislative Update from Rep. Frank Iler – September 14, 2015

By Frank Iler | September 14, 2015

northcarolina_sealLast week in the North Carolina House of Representatives we had no votes on bills, we had frequent caucus meetings that stretched over 2 hours in some cases, and the House and Senate leaders reached a budget compromise.

Not having any public meetings, but all closed meetings, there was nothing to report until Friday of last week and Monday of this week. The budget had been resolved at lower levels except for a few issues that the top two leaders had to agree to themselves. The Speaker of the House and the Senate Pro Tem met for over a week, frequently late into the night to resolve these last few key issues. Friday night it was announced that a compromise had been reached.

Due to all the meetings taking place, there were no votes taken on the House floor and very few in the Senate. Instead, the House and Senate leaders were meeting together, then meeting with their respective caucuses to explain the issues and where the two chambers stood in their disagreements.

There was an agreement reached on Friday, and the details were rolled out on Monday of this week. Some of the highlights follow:

  • Spending of $21.735 billion in 2015 – 2016 and $21.921 in 2016 – 2017
  • Salary and Benefits:
    • Starting teachers (years 0 – 4) will receive an increase from $33,000 a year to $35,000 a year.
    • All teachers and state employees will receive a $750 bonus by the end of fiscal year 2015.
    • Highway Patrol sworn members will receive a 3% increase.
    • Education: Teacher Assistants in the lower grades are fully funded.
    • Driver Education is fully funded.
    • Increased funding for textbooks and digital learning resources.
    • Increase in Opportunity Scholarships.
    • $7.5 million to Community Colleges for career course equipment.
  • Transportation:
    • Eliminated the transfer from the Highway Fund to the General Fund, over $200 million.
    • $440 million in additional road funding.
    • $70 million for port modernization
    • Increased funding for resurfacing, bridge renovation, and pavement preservation.
    • Increased funding for capital construction projects in the Highway Trust fund.
  • Health and Human Services:
    • Increased funding for mental health services
    • No changes to the Certificate of Need laws.
  • Agriculture and Natural Resources:
    • Support for dredging of coastal inlets
    • .Additional funding to support the Oyster industry.
    • $3 million for Tourism Funding.
    • $500 thousand for Shale Gas Exploration.
    • $1.3 million in administrative cuts to DENR.
  • Justice and Public Safety:
    • Grants for body-worn cameras for law enforcement.
    • Completes funding for in-car cameras for Highway Patrol vehicles.
    • Additional funds for court modernization.
  • General Government:  
    • New Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs.
    • New Dept. of Information Technology.
    • Tax Package: Cut personal income tax rate 0.26% to %.499%.
    • Unlimited Deduction for both Medical and Charitable deductions.
    • Keeps Corporate Income Tax rate trigger that should drop the 2016 rate to 3%.

 

  • Other Highlights:  
    • $30 million for film grants.
    • $8 million in 2016-17 for Historic Tax Credit.
    • Funding for OneNC fund, Rural Economic Development grants and JMAC fund.

 

It is expected that votes will take place on the budget either Wednesday and Thursday or Thursday and Friday.

Posted in Legislative Updates