Chuck McGrady
  • Welcome
  • About Chuck McGrady
  • General Assembly
    • NCGA Website
    • How Laws Are Made
    • Legislative Building
    • Our State Seal
    • State Constitution
    • Glossary of Terms
  • Maps
    • District 117 Map
    • House Districts Map
  • Links
    • State Agencies
    • State Website
    • Court System
    • Henderson County Links
      • County Government
      • City of Hendersonville
      • Henderson County Schools
      • Chamber of Commerce
      • County Board of Elections
      • Blue Ridge Humane Society
  • Contribute

A Short Review of the 2016 Budget

Posted on June 28, 2016 by admin in Agriculture, Budget, Children, Environment, McGrady, Newsletters, UNC

Click to learn more about Representative Chuck McGradyLate last night the General Assembly released the Joint Conference Committee Report on the Budget (Money Report) and the Conference Committee Substitute for House Bill 1030 (Special Provisions). These two documents detail the proposed adjustments to North Carolina’s FY 2016-17 budget.

After many long days and nights, the budget is finally done. The Conference Committee reconciled the differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget, and it was publicly released. This conferenced version of the budget cannot be amended. When it comes to the House floor, there will simply be two, roll call votes.

With a document of this size and complexity, there are sure to be some errors, such as wrong dates or statute citations. Any such issues will most likely be resolved in a budget technical corrections bill, which will be considered later.

The balanced budget appropriates $22.3 billion for the fiscal year, an increase of 2.8% from last year’s budget. The budget strives to make up for the cuts made during the great recession, while working to build up our reserves and pay off any debt.

This budget adds $473.6 million to the State’s savings reserve, bringing it to nearly $1.6 billion, or 7.3% of the annual budget. The budget keeps $71 million in reserve for future benefits needs for the State Health Plan and funds all State retirement systems at actuarially determined levels. Furthermore, this budget pays off all of a $38 million federal loan issued during the 90’s, saving the State $44.7 million in interest payments.

The budget bill continues to provide tax reform by increasing the standard deduction by $1,000 for married couples filing jointly, a tax cut of $145 million, saving a median income earning NC family $110 a year. This tax cut is counter-balanced by a $22.4 million sales tax base expansion that closes tax loopholes – hopefully making the sales tax more fair for businesses.

North Carolina teachers will receive an average 4.7% pay increase, bringing the average annual salary of North Carolina teachers to over $50,000. State retirees will receive a 1.6% one-time cost-of-living supplement. Most state employees will receive a 1.5% salary increase, a .5% bonus, and be eligible for a merit-based bonus – equivalent to a 1% average. Most Judicial branch employees will receive a 4.5% salary increase.

Below are a few budget items that will affect Western North Carolina.

Western Agricultural Center

$3,000,000 is allocated for the repair and renovation of the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center and an additional $500,000 for an events and restroom building. (Page 214, Line 40-41 of the Special Provisions)

WNC Farmer’s Market Improvements

$3,000,000 is allocated for the repair and renovations at the WNC Farmer’s Market, including repair of the parking lot. There are additional capital funds for the construction of a new facility and infrastructure to support Farmer’s Market programs. (Page 214, Line 45-46 of the Special Provisions)

DuPont State Recreational Forest

Provides $629,335 in recurring funds to support 9 positions and associated operating expenses at DuPont State Recreational Forest and $3,000,000 for the construction and improvement of additional bathrooms, utility, and the parking lot. (Page H 4, Item 4 of the Money Report and Page 209, Line 22-23 of the Special Provisions)

NC Promise Tuition Plan

Reduces the tuition at Western Carolina University, along with UNC – Pembroke and Elizabeth City State University, to $500 per semester for in-state students and $2,500 for out-of-state students beginning with the 2018 fall academic semester and authorizes up to $40 million to off-set the tuition “buy-down.” (Page 55, Line 14-38 of the Special Provisions)

Western School of Medicine–Asheville

Provides $8,000,000 in non-recurring funds to build a building for the new medical school, and $3,000,000 in continuing funding to support administration, faculty, and related programs (Page F 22, Item 60 of the Money Report and Page 209, Line 45 of the Special Provisions)

Western School of Engineering and Technology

Provides $130,000 in recurring and $500,000 in non-recurring funds for project management and curriculum development at the Western School of Engineering and Technology, which was funded in 2016 in the Connect NC Bond. (Page F 23, Item 66 in the Money Report)

Clean Water Management Trust Fund (CWMTF)

Provides an additional $8,600,000 for the CWMTF. (Page H 47, Item 62 of the Money Report)

Natural Heritage Program

Restores $314,726 in funding for 4.10 positions that was cut last year. (Page H 47, Item 61 of the Money Report)

Firefighting Equipment

$3,000,000 is provided to purchase an airplane and heavy equipment to be used for firefighting. (Page H 4, Item 3 of the Money Report)

International Marketing

Provides $500,000 for international marketing of North Carolina agricultural products. (Page H 3, Item 6 of the Money Report)

Forest Development Fund

Provides $75,000 to be used for hardwood and soft-hardwood forestation projects. (Page H 3, Item 5 of the Money Report)

Multi-Campus Centers

$1,553,733 is provided to operate 3 new Multi-Campus Centers. Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College will receive $517,911. (Page F 15, Item 38 of the Money Report)

Muddy Sneakers

$500,000 is provided to Western North Carolina-based Muddy Sneakers to support and expand its experiential learning programs to improve the science aptitude for 5th graders through supplemental, hands-on field instruction of the State science standards. (Page F 9, Item 26 of the Money Report)

Western Crime Lab

The State is completing work on the Western Crime Lab in Edneyville. The lab now needs to be equipped. There is $1,087,803 in the budget to buy equipment and $301,276 for a technician, scientific supplies, increased maintenance and utility costs. (Page I 13, Item 18 of the Money Report)

UNC – Asheville Land Acquisition

Provides $2,000,000 for the acquisition of land. (Page 209, Line 43-44 of the Special Provisions)
Click here to learn more about Representative Chuck McGrady

Contact

EmailFacebookTwitter

Search

Latest Newsletter

  • Great Seal of the State of North Carolina

    The Start of the Legislative Session

    February 12, 2019

More About Newsletters

To receive Rep. McGrady's newsletters, please send an email to his Legislative Assistant and we'll add you to our newsletter distribution list.

For a complete archive of all of Rep. McGrady's newsletters, click here.

Rep. McGrady’s Latest Tweets

  • Many thanks & congratulations to my fellow honorees: Miranda Brown, Joe Nicol, Scott Meltzer, Senator @DanBlueNC, S… https://t.co/rKqKWrSCNm
    February 19, 2019
  • But if @SanctuaryBeer was in another jurisdiction, it might be shut down by either ALE or the local public health a… https://t.co/KOcocNZ1AP
    February 19, 2019
  • @BeerLawCenter Another thing I guess I’ll have to consider resolving although I would hope the ABC board could reso… https://t.co/dQD4SkDXFa
    February 19, 2019
  • State law shouldn’t leave it unclear. There are dogs in breweries in Henderson County but I’ve heard Mecklenburg C… https://t.co/Njs6nEQB1G
    February 18, 2019
  • I’ve learned after being married for so long that being half-right about anything is about the best I can hope for.… https://t.co/u0mMgYz25r
    February 18, 2019
  • Stories and photos we love: For veterans in Henderson, a handmade gift for their service https://t.co/YvvZlVMEiR… https://t.co/wzYbve47Cx
    February 17, 2019
  • That is H 69–not H 60.
    February 15, 2019
  • The commission bill (H 60) gives us a chance to end partisan gerrymandering. Another way to do this is by consti… https://t.co/M1PA5CYL8J
    February 15, 2019
  • @amyrbrown12_amy @nutgraham While I agree with you, putting together a little, lame poetry to try to get folks thin… https://t.co/plGRY1sxYH
    February 14, 2019
  • Before the 50th Anniversary celebration for @FallingCreek, I went on the website and saw @BrianTurnerNC’s picture.… https://t.co/2lxtn6wR2g
    February 14, 2019

The Economy Then and Now

Articles by Category

Articles by Year

Recent Articles

  • The Start of the Legislative Session
  • House Enacts Voter ID With Veto Override
  • The End Is In Sight
  • The Endless Legislative Session
  • $793 Million for Florence Recovery
  • My Perspective on the Proposed Constitutional Amendments
  • Disaster Relief: What Comes Next
  • Hurricane Recovery Fund Approved in Bipartisan Vote
  • Legislature to Convene October 2 for Hurricane Relief
  • The WLOS Election Questionnaire
  • Constitutional Amendment Redux
  • State Revenues Exceed Forecast by Over $400 million
  • Hurricane Relief Committee to Investigate Recovery Delays
  • Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness
  • Revenue estimates $252.8 million ahead of targets
  • The Short Session Winds Down
  • Flag Day 2018
  • Remembering the Day that Saved the World
  • Houses Passes School Safety Programs
  • The Budget Passes and…Life After the Budget
  • The Budget: More Detail on What It Funds
  • The Budget: Substance and Process
  • A Primer on Transportation Projects
  • Six statistics Carolinians should know
  • Employment Increases by more than 85,000
  • Safeguarding Emergency Equipment
  • LEO: No Need to Get Angry
  • The Pharmacy Patient Fair Practices Act
  • A Statue for North Carolina’s Favorite Son
  • A Good and Faithful Servant
  • Remembering Washington on President’s Day
  • A New Pipeline of Money to Public Schools
  • Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car
  • Tax Fraud Prevention Saves State Revenue
  • Class Size: A Simple Explanation of the Issue

Featured Video

Friends of Carl Sandburg at Connemara
This site is provided as a service to the people of Henderson County. It is not maintained at taxpayer expense.