Duplin lawmakers set agendas for new session
By Matthew Whittle
Published in News on January 23, 2007 1:50 PM
KENANSVILLE -- Speaking at James Sprunt Community College's legislative and business breakfast Monday morning, state Rep. Russell Tucker, D-District 4, and state Sen. Charlie Albertson, D-District 10, said that with a long list of items in front of them, they're looking forward to beginning the General Assembly's 2007 session, which starts Wednesday.
Most of the issues they discussed with the group related to education -- continued funding of community colleges and public schools -- but there are other items on their agenda, as well.
All of them, however, -- Medicaid relief for counties, alternative revenue streams for counties, health care and mental health, water and sewer infrastructure and land conservation -- could mean diving into an already tight budget.
"We have a lot of tremendous needs, but we're not really awash in money," Albertson said.
Fortunately, he continued, according to his information, it doesn't appear that the naysayers are correct in their projections of a $1 billion to $2 billion shortfall in the 2007-08 budget.
"We're in pretty good shape financially," he said. "We were pretty conservative on our budget and it's coming in a little better than we projected."
But there are several recurring expenses will make it tight, he added.
Among those are the salary increases that the legislature gave teachers and other state employees last year -- a move that Tucker wants to make sure the General Assembly preserves.
Both men also want to see mental health funding continue, as well as Medicaid relief for North Carolina's counties.
Albertson said he's not sure what form Medicaid relief will take -- it could be another cap or some sort of revenue trade, such as more sales tax reverting back to the state in exchange for relief -- but he knows something has to be done.
He and Tucker also said that they will be looking at how counties might be allowed to raise their own additional revenues.
"We're looking at some options," Albertson said. "I think we're going to have to be careful that the taxes aren't regressive, but we're looking to give the counties some options."
In terms of education, the two legislators continued, a statewide school construction bond will be discussed, as will ideas to improve school technology and safety, as well as dropout and graduation rates.
And with the two chambers also expected to debate bonds for water and sewer infrastructure improvements and for land and water conservation efforts, Albertson said it's fortunate that North Carolina has earned a AAA bond rating -- the highest possible.
Both of those issues are related to the state's rapid population growth.
"We've got to try to prepare for that," Albertson said.
Of course, both Albertson and Tucker also have their own issues they're interested in discussing.
For Tucker, it's an extension of the moratorium on hog farm construction.
For Albertson, it's a push for renewable energy and an industry that he says could bring increases in jobs and economic development.
"We can generate a lot of our energy from a variety of sources," he said. "We can produce a lot of our own energy and keep a lot of it here."
But with many legislators in agreement that these issues need to be addressed in one way or another, both Albertson and Tucker are hoping for a smooth session.
"I think the main goal of the Democrats in the House will be to go in, act on those things in our platform and get out as soon after July 15 as we can," Tucker said.
"I think we'll have a good session," Albertson added. "I'm hopeful we can do some good things to keep our state moving forward."