North Carolina

If Raleigh Budgeted More Like N.C., Taxpayers Would Save Millions

Published

5 months ago

June 1, 2024

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If Raleigh Budgeted More Like N.C., Taxpayers Would Save Millions

Raleigh, North Carolina

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Unsustainable rates of growth in government spending is a problem at the federal and state levels. Lawmakers in most states, both blue and red, are growing government spending at an unsustainable rate, more rapidly than population growth and inflation. Yet a number of states have demonstrated over the past decade that fiscal restraint and conservative budgeting is an achievable goal.

In the decade from 2014 to 2023, total state outlays (both state funds and federal transfer funds) in six states (Alaska, Colorado, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming) grew at a slower pace than the rate of population growth plus inflation, also referred to as the fiscally sustainable growth rate (SGR). In another six states (Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island), state spending (state funds only, not including federal transfers) grew at a slower pace than the SGR. Yet even in states where lawmakers have practiced sustainable budgeting, runaway spending by local governments remains a challenge.

North Carolina is one of the states where lawmakers kept growth of state spending over the past decade below the rate of population growth plus inflation. While state legislators in Raleigh, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R) and Speaker Tim Moore (R), are practicing budgetary restraint, local officials in Raleigh are not.

Take the new FY 2025 city budget recently proposed by the Raleigh City Council, which totals $1.44 billion. That represents a nearly 12% increase from the current budget.

If the Raleigh City Council were to craft a new spending plan that instead grew city spending in line with the rate of inflation and population growth, which is 6.56%, they would need to enact a budget that spends $1.36 billion next year, not the proposed $1.43 billion. A new city budget that grew in line with population growth plus inflation, which the General Assembly down the street has demonstrated is attainable for more than a decade, would save Raleigh taxpayers more than $66 million next year.

Basic math demonstrates that Raleigh officials could provide signifiant relief to taxpayers through more sustainable budgeting. As Senator Berger, Speaker Moore, and their colleagues have demonstrated for years, meaningful taxpayer savings doesn’t not necessitate drastic spending cuts or a slashing of services, but more modest rates of growth.

By keeping growth in state spending below the rate of population growth plus inflation, North Carolina has realized repeated budget surpluses at the same time lawmakers have returned billions to taxpayers through rate-reducing income tax reform that has brought the state’s top income tax rate from 7.75% down to 4.5% in the matter of a decade. Thanks to this fiscal restraint on the part of the North Carolina General Assembly, state government is much trimmer in size than was the case a decade ago.

“For several decades – from the mid-1970’s up until the Republican takeover of the General Assembly in 2011 – North Carolina’s state budget hovered between 6% and 7% of the state’s economy,” the NC Budget Center, a progressive outfit, reported in 2021. “Thanks to big tax and spending cuts enacted by the General Assembly, state outlays began to plummet, reaching their nadir during the current fiscal year at around 4.54% of the state’s economy.”

The NC Budget Center and other progressive organizations bemoan the fact that, relative to the size of the North Carolina economy, state government is now much leaner than it was prior to the 2010 GOP takeover of the state legislature. Yet, proving the adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, many others, including most North Carolina legislators, view that same trend as one to brag about, particularly on the campaign trail.

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North Carolina

Effingham local plans fundraiser for Helene victims in North Carolina

Published

5 hours ago

November 2, 2024

Press Room

Effingham local plans fundraiser for Helene victims in North Carolina

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) – It’s been just over a month since states across the southeast were hit by hurricane Helene, including Georgia. One of the hardest hits states, however, was North Carolina.

A woman from Effingham has been doing her best to help those in need by gathering supplies and taking them to storm torn areas.

WTOC spoke with the Georgia local to learn more about the work she’s been doing.

Our team originally spoke with Angela Miller before she made her first trip up to North Carolina after the hurricane. Since then, her and her family have made two trips to cities like Swanannoa. Their third trip is already planned for next weekend.

Miller immediately began collecting donations for storm victims, and she took a huge load to North Carolina the first weekend after Helene passed through.

Miller says during both trips she‘s made so far, the communities’ perseverance was inspiring.

“You know, you just don’t understand how these people just can smile and give you a hug and then turn around and walk into their house and there’s no electricity. They have no food. You know, they can’t get out of their house because they can’t go further if they don’t have somebody to help them,” said Miller. “The pictures just don’t do it justice. I mean it just like you know, oh well that’s kind of what happened. No, it’s split houses in half.”

The group of volunteers that Miller was with passed out over 500 meals to those still in the area.

To help gather more supplies for storm victims, they’re throwing a fundraiser at a local restaurant in Savannah.

A friend of Miller’s who works at Midtown Bar and Grill on Habersham reached out wanting to help the people in North Carolina.

The restaurant will be open and accepting donations today beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Miller has lists of what items people can bring on Facebook, including gift cards to Lowes or Home Depot for material supplies to help rebuild in areas that were completely destroyed.

Miller says the outpouring of support from her own Georgia community has been a blessing.

“You know we had our own devastation in Georgia, and I have been very, very blessed and very just overwhelmed with the amount of help that people, I mean, I have had donation, donation…The community is good,” said Miller.

All the donations collected during the fundraiser will be loaded up and taken with Miller on her next trip to Swanannoa.

Amy Moore, who owns Simply Southern in Springfield, will also be making the trip with Miller to pass out meals to those in need.

If you’re not able to make it out to Midtown Bar and Grill but would still like to make a donation, Miller says you can reach out to her anytime.

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North Carolina

East Carteret HS donating football ticket sales to Western North Carolina

Published

16 hours ago

November 1, 2024

Press Room

East Carteret HS donating football ticket sales to Western North Carolina

CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – As flag twirlers rehearse for Friday’s senior night football match against Southside High School, East Carteret High School is also preparing for a great cause.

100% of Friday night’s ticket sales will be donated to support Buncombe County Schools, which were severely impacted by Hurricane Helene.

East Carteret High School Cheer Captain and Student Body President Savannah Tyndall expressed her gratitude for the support they received during previous hurricanes and the tragic plane crash in 2022.

Now it’s their turn to give back, she says.

“We can’t pay back these families or these kids education that they lost…but we can give them the funding to try to rebuild and help in whatever ways they need,” says Tyndall.

East Carteret High School Principal Jay Westbrook says everyone was excited when they decided to donate the funds to Buncombe County.

He says he knew what to do when he called Buncombe County’s school superintendent.

“So I reached out to Dr. Jackson and it was a Saturday morning and I could tell there was a tremendous need of help because I know him very well,” says Westbrook.

Dr. Rob Jackson is no stranger to East Carteret High because he used to be the Carteret County School superintendent before moving back home to Buncombe County and becoming the superintendent there.

Westbrook says he wanted to help out as much as he could for a friend who helped him during previous tragic events.

Dr. Jackson says he is more than grateful to see the outpour of support for an area hit hard.

“Donations through our education foundation allows us to meet the needs of our students and their families and our staff members that have lost a home, a car, or where floods occurred and where many literally lost everything,” says Dr. Jackson.

Westbrook says East Carteret High School is mainly collecting monetary funds so they can be distributed to where it’s needed the most.

Tickets for the game are $8.00 each. Donations will also be accepted at the entry gate.

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North Carolina

Several North Carolina state parks reopening after Helene

Published

1 day ago

November 1, 2024

Press Room

Several North Carolina state parks reopening after Helene

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AXIOS) – Multiple state parks across western North Carolina were reopening, at least partially, on Nov. 1.

State parks west of I-77 have been closed for weeks due to Hurricane Helene.

Why it matters: State parks are a major draw to western North Carolina. They provide miles of hiking trails for visitors to explore, especially during the fall as people travel to witness leaves change color.

State of play: Crowders Mountain, Gorges, Grandfather Mountain and Lake Norman state parks, plus Rendezvous Mountain will reopen on Nov. 1, the Division of Parks and Recreation announced Wednesday.

What to expect: Keep in mind, some state parks may only be partially open and others remain closed due to hazardous trees and branches, unsteady bridges and washed-out trails. Here’s what to expect at parks reopening Friday:

Crowders Mountain State Park

Trails and day-use from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. will reopen. Camping, however, remains closed through November.

Look for the Charlotte skyline on a clear day.

Distance: 45 minutes from Charlotte; 3 hours 18 minutes from Raleigh

Crowders Mountain(Ashley Mahoney/Axios)

Charlotte skyline view from Crowders Mountain.(Ashley Mahoney/Axios)

Gorges State Park

Grassy Ridge access at 976 Grassy Ridge Road, Sapphire, North Carolina will reopen, including the visitor center, trails to Rainbow and Upper Bearwallow Falls, plus RV, trailer, tent camping and cabins.

The backcountry area, including Frozen Creek access, Auger Hole and Canebrake trails, plus backcountry campsites, will remain closed.

Distance: 3 hours from Charlotte; 5 hours from Raleigh

Grandfather Mountain State Park

Most trails and campsites here will reopen. Profile trail, Profile Connector trail and Profile campsite, however, will remain closed

Distance: 2 hours 15 minutes from Charlotte; 3 hours 40 minutes from Raleigh

Lake Norman State Park

Day-use, tent, trailer, RV and campsites will reopen.

Cabins are closed to new reservations, but existing reservations will be honored.
Some mountain bike trail sections may be closed.
Distance: 50 minutes from Charlotte; 2.5 hours from Raleigh

Rendezvous Mountain

All areas of Rendezvous Mountain (1956 Rendezvous Mountain Road, Purlear, North Carolina) will reopen.

Distance: 1 hour 50 minutes from Charlotte; 2 hours 48 minutes from Raleigh

Parks that remain closed:

Zoom in: Chimney Rock, Mount Mitchell and South Mountains are expected to be closed longer than others. Campsite reservations at state parks that are closed or expect to be closed at the time of the reservation have been refunded, per the Division of Parks and Recreation.

What’s next: Some parks may partially reopen in November, according to State Parks Director Brian Strong.

What they’re saying: “We know our visitors have been missing our closed parks, and we hope these reopenings will help our neighbors, local towns, and communities,” Strong said in a statement.

This story from Axios Charlotte was published as part of a partnership.

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