THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 14, 1995 TAG: 9502140305
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY BETTY MITCHELL GRAY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
Northeastern North Carolina is slated to receive about $14.1 million in state funds for new building projects under Gov. James B. Hunt Jr.'s budget recommendation for the next two years.
But the governor proposes an early end to a pilot project in the Elizabeth City/Pasquotank County school system.
The proposals are part of a spending package of $10.11 billion for 1995-96 and $10.19 billion for 1996-97 in a budget that Hunt and Budget Director Marvin K. Dorman Jr. unveiled Monday.
The budget also includes $233.1 million in personal income tax cuts and repeal of the state's intangibles tax for individuals and businesses, for a total tax cut of $343.1 million for 1995-96.
Major building projects for coastal North Carolina and other capital expenditures include $5 million in 1995-96 for the Elizabeth II State Historic Site on Roanoke Island, $1.3 million for planning at the three state aquariums and $300,000 for a new Division of Marine Fisheries sea-going patrol boat.
Hunt said he included the Elizabeth II funding because the site ``is a very important economic development project for travel and tourism.
``It's just going to make money and create a lot of jobs for the people of North Carolina,'' Hunt said at a news conference.
The region's poor school systems also would get a boost over the next two years.
Poor school systems would receive an additional $20 million for 1995-97, raising the supplement to $55 million for these systems by the end of the two years. MEMO: REGIONAL SPENDING PROPOSALS
A look at some of the governor's spending proposals that would affect
northeastern North Carolina:
Public education: Supplemental funds for low-wealth school systems, $10
million for 1995-96, $10 million for 1996-97.
Human resources:
Health care centers for rural and underserved areas of North Carolina,
$2 million for 1995-96, $2 million for 1996-97.
Additional funding for Smart Start, $16.4 million for 1995-96, $44
million for 1996-97.
Environment, health and natural resources:
Funding to establish a computer data base to aid the Division of
Environmental Management's basin-wide management planning, $1.3 million
for 1995-96.
Funding for technical support for local land use planning, $865,141 for
1995-96, $846,141 for 1996-97.
Funding for the Partnership for the Sounds for building purchase and
renovations, $500,000 for 1995-96.
The governor's budget also recommends $200.5 million in budget
reductions for 1995-96 and $218.8 million for 1996-97.
Some of the spending cuts that will affect the Albemarle area:
Public education: Eliminate funding for the Outcome-Based Education
pilot projects. Savings: $3 million for 1995-96, $3 million for
1996-97.
Community colleges: Eliminate visiting artist program. Savings: $175,656
for 1995-96, $175,656 for 1996-97.
State planning: Reduce funding for the Council of Governments for 18
regional organizations. Savings: $432,144 for 1995-96, $432,144 for
1996-97.
Environment, health and natural resources: Eliminate state support of
mosquito control program. Savings: $686,427 for 1995-96, $686,427 for
1996-97.
Hunt's budget also includes $175.2 million in capital expenses in
1995-96 and $14 million in 1996-97. Some Albemarle area construction
projects included in Hunt's budget:
Agriculture: Funding for Eastern North Carolina Agriculture Centure in
Martin County, $6 million in 1995-96.
Cultural resources: Funding for Ice Plant Island at the Elizabeth II
State Historic Site, $5 million for 1995-96.
Environment, health and natural resources:
Funding for Division of Marine Fisheries for law enforcement and
shellfish research, $2.17 million for 1995-96.
Funding for N.C. Aquariums for continued planning, $1.3 million for
1995-96.
Human resources: Funding for 24-bed detention facility in Northeastern
North Carolina, $1.8 million for 1995-96.
Source: 1995-97, The North Carolina State Budget Summary of
Recommendations
KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY BUDGET by CNB