budget

The budget proposal outlined here reduces appropriations in fiscal year (FY) 2009-10 to $18.8 billion, $2.6 billion less than the final budget for FY 2008-09, and similar to the budget for FY 2006-07. In this proposal, per-capita spending adjusted for inflation of $1,969 remains higher than in FY 1997-98 or any year before.

RALEIGH — Rampant state government spending bears much of the blame for North Carolina’s current budget woes, according to a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report. State spending has…

Tax revenue in North Carolina is volatile because of the dependence on income and sales taxes. Proper budgeting would account for the rise and fall in tax revenues over time.

The North Carolina General Assembly approved a $21.4 billion budget for fiscal year (FY) 2009, up 3.4 percent from FY 2008, with $21.2 billion in appropriations for operating expenses, up 4.0 percent. As usual, the final budget was prepared behind closed doors by the House Speaker and President Pro Tem of the Senate with minimal involvement from all but a dozen legislators of either party and little opportunity for the public or other legislators to review spending proposals before a final vote.

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.

RALEIGH – The N.C. House’s proposed $21.2 billion state operations budget spends too much money on unproven ideas, overspends one-time money for long-term expenses, and sets up future legislatures for…

Gov. Easley proposed $21.4 billion in state appropriations for continuing operations in fiscal year 2009, up $1 billion (4.9 percent) from the final budget for fiscal year 2008. Combined pay increases, including one-time bonuses, for teachers and state employees total $594 million. Less than a fifth of the $400 million in spending reductions are much more than reclaiming money that would not otherwise be spent.

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley’s last budget plan would increase state spending by another $1 billion a year, calling on smokers and drinkers to foot part of the bill. That’s…