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 Top stories
Loophole
panel eyes $220 million
in new taxes, improved efficiency
Governor
Easley's Efficiency and Loophole-Closing Commission advances a
package of tax increases and government efficiencies it says
are worth about $220 million a year. The commission spreads the
pain around, with individuals bearing 25 percent of the
additional taxes and businesses 32 percent. The remainder
falls on a combination of both. The biggest chunk of new
revenue would come from a new 6 percent tax on interstate long
distance phone calls. Read that story.
Senate leaders unveil $14.5 billion budget
The
Senate leadership unveiled a budget that anticipates spending
$14.5 billion next fiscal year. The measure, filed by the three co-chairs of the Appropriations Base
Budget Committee, largely reflects Gov. Easley's priorities. Introduction of the bill marks the official
beginning of
what everyone believes will be a long and difficult
process that will extend until July 1, the start of
the state’s new fiscal year. Story,
line-by-line budget chart.
State's
budget blues look a little brighter
Tax
collections are still below forecast, but hardly anyone now
doubts that the state will be able to balance its budget at
the end of the year. Through three
quarters of this fiscal year, tax collections actually are
ahead of where they were at this point last year -- $9,474.8
million vs. $9,476.9, a positive difference of $2.1 million. Story,
revenue chart
NCSU
asks blessing for stadium expansion
It's
usually a pro forma maneuver, but the UNC System campuses are
asking the General Assembly for permission to proceed with
construction projects that won't need taxpayer support. Among
the biggest proposals is N.C. State's $103 million expansion
of Carter Finley Stadium and a $25 million alumni
center. Story, list of
bills of statewide interest filed recently.
Tourism
spending grows to $12 billion
Roughly 43 million visitors spent more than $12
billion in North Carolina last year, a 5.5 percent increase in
travel and tourism spending over 1999, Gov. Mike Easley said at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Asheville. The travel industry
generated $677 million total state tax revenue through state
sales and excise taxes, and taxes on personal and corporate
income, the governor said. Story,
chart.
NCCBI Membership News
Check the NCCBI calendar of
events to see which ones you should attend.
NCCBI offers a seminar to train business people how
to improve your media relations skills, including how to
conduct yourself during a TV interview.
Download your free copy of NCCBI's Guide to the 2001
Legislature.
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