http://wral.com/news/local/politics/story/3059517/

Quote :

"N.C. budget picture rosier than other states' State Budget graphic Posted: Jun. 17 5:42 p.m. Updated: Jun. 17 7:14 p.m. Raleigh, N.C. — The slowdown in the national economy is trickling down to state budgets, and lawmakers from coast to coast are struggling to plug holes in their spending plans. California's $22 billion budget gap, for example, is bigger than North Carolina's entire state budget. With housing woes and no income tax, Florida is working to fill a hole in its budget of more than $4 billion. Likewise, Tennessee has no income tax and is looking to eliminate 2,000 state jobs through buyouts to balance its budget. Virginia and South Carolina also face shortfalls. Meanwhile, North Carolina is finishing its fiscal year with revenue millions of dollars ahead of projections. "We rank very well in there. A lot of states are not giving anything. A lot of people are laid off. They're not being able to give anybody raises now," Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand said. Dan Gerlach, the top economic adviser to Gov. Mike Easley, said the state tries to keep its budget and tax forecasts conservative. "We've had stronger job growth than other places. We're not immune to national issues, but certainly, our conservative budgeting has led us. We'll probably [b]end with a surplus with other states deep, deep in debt," Gerlach said. Still, Easley's critics said they don't see such a conservative stance in the way North Carolina spends tax money. "I think the problem with that is that we continue to take more money out of the private economy than other states generally do," Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger said. "I think that hurts our overall economy. It may be good for state government, but I don't think it's good for the private economy." Lawmakers said they don't plan on raising taxes this year. If the state's economy falters, lawmakers also can tap an $800 million reserve fund as needed."

idk this mr berger guy sounds like an idiot to me....shit like this makes me want to stay in nc

[Edited on June 18, 2008 at 5:52 AM. Reason : .]

6/18/2008 5:48:34 AM

Now let's give it all away in tax rebates and screw ourselves out of rainy day funds yay!!!!!!!!!

6/18/2008 6:57:13 AM

Oh, don't misinterpret the article. NC is wasting money on overheard, pet projects, etc. just like any other state, they just make sure to collect twice as much tax as any other state so they can cover it.

6/18/2008 7:50:40 AM

yeah all you have to do to hear about it is to listen to 15 minutes of

IT'S THE BILL LUMAYE SHOW

IT'S THE BILL LUMAYE SHOW

to learn about that

6/18/2008 8:45:21 AM

i remember one time I turned on 680 when i was back in NC for a few days and i heard bill lumaye or whatever his name is talking about "the jews" and he wasn't in a serious discussion about the holocaust or anything

smh @ NC

6/18/2008 8:47:40 AM

I guess Phil Berger forgets that time last year when David Hoyle stood up and read a huge list by Forbes magazine on why NC was the best State in Southeast to do business in. Berger (R-Rockingham) never changes the talking points even when they have been refuted.

6/18/2008 9:36:01 AM

I like this title

6/18/2008 10:06:41 AM

If you're not thrilled with the tax and spending down at the NC legislature, check out the "Take Back Our State" rally.

When: June 25. 4:30-7:30
Where: Halifax Mall, Raleigh. (behind the General Assembly)

Who Will Be There:
Bob Dole- former Senator
Michael Steele- Former Lt. Gov. Maryland
Bill Lumaye- Conservative voice of WPTF
Barbara Howe- NC Libertarian party Chairman
John Hood- President of The John Locke Foundation.

Link to the event here
http://www.americansforprosperity.org/index.php?state=ncss

6/18/2008 10:06:46 AM

^ Why did they invite some no-talent hack like Steele?

6/18/2008 10:08:30 AM

i remember when i was in boot camp, we all got paid the same thing. the only difference in the actual size of our paychecks was how much was taken out in state taxes.

almost everyone made more money than I did.

6/18/2008 12:34:50 PM

"Take Back Our State"? Dude, you're not even from here. In fact, it's filthy northern immigrants like you who come down here and take all the pet store jobs from good God-fearing white folk.

And with Bob Dole and some guy from Maryland, why don't they just go ahead and change the title to quit with the "our state" stuff. They could just call it, "LIBERTARIANS RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!"

6/18/2008 12:44:17 PM

Quote :

"Still, Easley's critics said they don't see such a conservative stance in the way North Carolina spends tax money. "I think the problem with that is that we continue to take more money out of the private economy than other states generally do," Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger said. "I think that hurts our overall economy. It may be good for state government, but I don't think it's good for the private economy.""

this is the fucking problem with politics, even when someone is categorically doing well, people start complaining about shit. GG Easley and Co.

Quote :

"I guess Phil Berger forgets that time last year when David Hoyle stood up and read a huge list by Forbes magazine on why NC was the best State in Southeast to do business in. Berger (R-Rockingham) never changes the talking points even when they have been refuted."

true that

6/18/2008 12:53:29 PM

Quote :

"i remember when i was in boot camp, we all got paid the same thing. the only difference in the actual size of our paychecks was how much was taken out in state taxes. almost everyone made more money than I did."

Those other states get their money back either through use taxes, higher sales taxes and property taxes.

6/18/2008 1:26:58 PM

sometimes. it's not like NC's sales tax is super low or anything, though (though it's better than the 8.5-9% pain here in WA, although there is no state income tax here).

FL had 7% sales tax and no state income tax. I'm now a FL resident and have no intention of changing it, no matter where I live.

NC is a relatively inexpensive place to register a car, though.

6/18/2008 1:32:07 PM

i heard nc has one of the lower costs of living anywhere in the US

6/18/2008 1:34:42 PM

^^don't forget the property tax issue.

6/18/2008 1:39:17 PM

"If you're not thrilled with the tax and spending"

The only other option republicans seem to offer is tax break and spend. So if its pay as you go, or borrow as you go, one seems more fiscally sound to me. I'm not saying there is no room for improvement, but I'm not sure that improvement will come from a rally against the pay as you go legislature NC has.

6/18/2008 2:10:31 PM

I like the don't pay as much, so you don't need as much plan, but there's a pipe dream.

6/18/2008 2:24:12 PM

Quote :

"The only other option republicans seem to offer is tax break and spend."

That's true too, Supplanter. The GOP isn't free of the tax and spend label either. But if we are in a "pay as you go" system, then politicians need to stop going for a awhile and zip it up.

6/18/2008 11:16:22 PM

Quote :

""Take Back Our State"? Dude, you're not even from here. In fact, it's filthy northern immigrants like you who come down here and take all the pet store jobs from good God-fearing white folk. And with Bob Dole and some guy from Maryland, why don't they just go ahead and change the title to quit with the "our state" stuff. They could just call it, "LIBERTARIANS RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!""

Sounds like sooomebody needs his juice box...

6/19/2008 1:12:10 AM

doesnt seem like 800 million is a lot of money to have sitting around waiting for an emergency or some shit...does that shit at least get interest?

6/19/2008 1:14:33 AM

Quote :

"They could just call it, "LIBERTARIANS RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!""

heh I like the ring of that

6/19/2008 5:45:15 AM

^^i'm pretty sure that 800MM number is including all interest collected on it through the fiscal year. so it might not be but 720MM now, but at the end of the FY it would be worth 800MM.

6/19/2008 9:54:22 AM

13.5 million will be added to the rainy day fund this year.

6/19/2008 12:27:03 PM

NC seems like one of the more well run states in terms of fiscal policy.

Considering the size of the state budget, 800 million doesn't seem out of the ordinary for a rainy day fund.

The state actually mandates local governments to both keep a balanced budget and have at least 8% of their budget set aside in a fund balance (although most local govs keep more like 25%), it's good that this state actually follows the same rules it makes local governments follow.

[Edited on June 19, 2008 at 3:10 PM. Reason : ]

6/19/2008 3:09:50 PM

and who runs this state?

DEMOCRATS!!

6/19/2008 7:19:28 PM