2008

The annexation law, despite hollow claims to the contrary, imposes few requirements on municipalities and offers little protection for citizens when it comes to forced annexation. Municipalities can forcibly annex areas that do not meet density requirements.

The North Carolina Senate approved $21.2 billion in appropriations for operating expenses in fiscal year (FY) 2009, which would be a 3.9 percent increase from FY 2008, which ends June 30. Senators would add $135 million in capital spending and $672 million in debt that would not face voter approval. Total appropriations would be 3.4 percent higher than in FY 2008.

RALEIGH – Final state budget negotiations could produce a document that’s more fiscally responsible than either the House or Senate budget plans, according to analysis by a John Locke…

The North Carolina House passed a $21.35 billion budget for fiscal year (FY) 2009, with $21.18 billion for continuing operations, which would be increases of 3.3 percent and 3.7 percent, respectively, from FY2008. Teachers would receive an average 3.0 percent pay increase and state employees 2.75 percent. Those raises would total $367 million.

Our public schools are struggling to meet the needs of special-needs students throughout North Carolina. During 2006-07 school year, less than 50 percent of high-school students with disabilities graduated in four years. A legislative analysis found that the state would save at least $3 million a year in the cost of educating special-needs students, so long as at least five percent of the special-needs students in public schools transfer to a private provider or facility.

RALEIGH – North Carolina could save millions of dollars, improve student performance, and boost parent satisfaction by adopting new education tax credits for special-needs students. That’s the conclusion of a…

The Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change’s work expired in April 2008. The legislature currently is considering the extension of the commission’s work. A commission to study global climate change can serve a vital purpose, but unfortunately this commission has failed miserably.

RALEIGH — Lawmakers should not extend the work of their state climate commission, unless that group stops ignoring the will of the legislature and starts doing the job it was…

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) operates 11 coal-fired power plants in the southeastern United States. These plants emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2), which contribute to particulate matter (PM) and ozone in the eastern U.S., including North Carolina.

RALEIGH – Forcing the Tennessee Valley Authority to reduce emissions from its coal-fired power plants would create far more costs than benefits, according to a new John Locke Foundation…