Legislative Update from Rep. Frank Iler – June 1, 2015
Last week in the North Carolina General Assembly we honored our fallen military heroes, as well as our living veterans, we passed a bill to save magistrates from termination due to religious beliefs, and we analyzed the final House budget that we passed the previous week.
The beautiful weather of Memorial Day weekend turned into a hot and humid week in Raleigh. The shortened week gave us time to catch our breath and continue to analyze the budget we passed in the House and sent to the Senate on Friday, the 22nd.
The largest part of the budget is the Education portion. For the 2015 – 2016 year alone it is $12.5 billion of the $22.2 billion general fund budget, or over 56%. The education budget fully funds enrollment growth, increases funds for teacher assistants by $88.8 million, increases textbook and digital resource funding, and provides pay raises for all teachers. Teachers in the first five years of experience will see the promised $2000 raise to get beginning pay to $35,000, and all others will see a 2% increase. All other state employees also receive a 2% raise.
Rainy Day Funds, that were virtually depleted just a few years ago, were increased in the 2015 – 2016 budget. The savings reserve increased by $200 million to $851 million, the Repairs and Renovation Reserve received $200 million, and the State Emergency Response received $20 million for emergencies and natural disasters.
The budget increased funding for Justice and Public Safety in such areas as court technology, cameras for vehicles and body-worn cameras, and to modernize other areas of the court and law enforcement system. In Economic Development funds were restored for historic revitalization of our local communities. Film grants were also restored at the $40 million level in both years of the biennial budget.
The Transportation portion of the budget reduces the gas tax at the pump to 33 cents per gallon, but diesel fuel remains at 36 cents. The reduced revenue is made up by increases in fees charged by the Department of Motors Vehicles (DMV). Many fees, most of which have not been adjusted for inflation since 2005, are raised by an average of 30%. Some had not been adjusted since the 1980s. This will put the funds for building and maintaining roads, bridges, and our ports on a more stable revenue base, unlike the current fuel wholesale price base.
A controversial bill involving magistrates performing same-sex marriages was debated and passed on Wednesday and Thursday. Senate Bill 2 – Magistrates Recusal For Civil Ceremonies protects magistrates who refuse to perform same-sex marriages for religious reasons from being fired for that reason. It was debated Wednesday and Thursday, and passed on the final vote 67 – 43 on a party line vote.
As it was Memorial Day week, we also passed a resolution honoring our fallen heroes, and living veterans as well. Many heart-felt testimonies were spoken from the floor by members who have experienced losses in previous wars and have been touched by these outstanding Americans and their sacrifices.
Back in Brunswick County on Friday, I was honored to be able to present two $1000 scholarships at South Brunswick High School. They were provided by the Brunswick County Republican Women and have been named the Jackie Iler Scholarships in memory of my late wife, who was a high school English teacher, was an active tutor at South Brunswick, and active on several scholarship committees.
This week the pace of bills considered in House and Senate committees is expected to pick up. I will undoubtedly have to present some of the bills I sponsored in Senate committees. The Senate will also continue to prepare their version of the state budget.