A big thank you to Salisbury Mayor Kluttz and Rocky Mount Mayor Combs who traveled to Raleigh today to meet with the Justice and Public Safety Appropriations Co-Chairs. They had a particularly positive meeting with Senate Majority Leader Brown who shares many of our perspectives on the courts needs.
The Governor is releasing her budget tomorrow at 10 AM with a press conference and then the budget will be presented in detail to the General Assembly at 1pm. Click here (and then on Appropriations Committee Room) at 1pm tomorrow to listen along.
The Joint Transportation Appropriations Committee heard a presentation by NCDOT on funding. The presentation covered funding sources, the equity formula, and NCDOT’s cash management and finance strategies. The question and answer period after presentations is always interesting as you can gain insight into what is on the member’s minds. Today’s questions included a wide range of topics. There was a discussion of our status as a donor state, meaning we send more transportation revenues to Washington D.C. than the State receives back. Rep. Iler noted that the Mobility Fund could be helpful in addressing our ports needs and asked if NCDOT thought we should have a specific fund for bridge replacement. Sen. Rabon asked if other states have different motor fuel tax rates on gasoline as opposed to diesel. Mark Foster, NCDOT Chief Financial Officer, noted that some states have differing rates, but in some cases the diesel rate is higher than the tax on gasoline and in others it is lower. Sen. Forrester asked for further explanation of the public private partnership model. Rep. Killian asked the department to look further at the cost efficiency of using more concrete as opposed to asphalt. He asked for additional details about the $65 billion funding gap and a review or validation that each project on that list is still viable and desired. Rep. Killian expressed his interest in looking further at the NCDOT cash management minimum requirements to ensure we are maximizing the use of our dollars at all times. Killian also noted the 1989 equity formula statute which says when 90% of the Intrastate System Mileage is completed the formula changes to 66% population, 34% equal share and wondered if in twenty years we have not finished 90% perhaps it was time to move on.
This afternoon the Senate moved SB27 Involuntary Annexation Moratorium from the Senate floor to the Senate Finance Committee. Please keep talking to your representatives and let them know cities and towns across NC are committed to making significant and meaningful changes to the city initiated annexation laws-including a strong voice for annexed residents.
