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| Highlights of final N.C. budget agreement RALEIGH , N.C. -- Highlights of the General Assembly's $18.87 billion final spending plan for the 2006-07 fiscal year given tentative approval Wednesday by the House and Senate. The monetary figures reflect adjustments to the two-year budget the Legislature approved last year. Salaries and benefits -- average 8 percent salary increase for public school teachers and 6 percent raise for community college and university faculty, with 2 percent one-time bonus for community college faculty and professional staff; 5.5 percent raise for most state workers: $664.1 million. -- additional 30-year salary step for public school teachers: $10.8 million. -- University of North Carolina system faculty recruitment and retention salary fund: $5 million. -- raise salaries of public school janitors, service workers and other non-certified employees to at least $20,112: $8.6 million. -- 3 percent cost-of-living raise for state retirees: $27.1 million. -- fourth installment of five-year retirement system payback: $30 million. Public schools -- meet projected increased enrollment of 18,363 students: $77 million. -- use lottery money to pay for class-size reduction efforts: -$127.9 million. -- compensate for lower than expected civil fines and forfeiture collections: $30 million. -- restore money to local school districts for previously ordered spending reductions: $44.3 million. -- expand funding to all school districts to help students most at risk of academic failure: $27 million. -- provide full funding for low-wealth school districts: $41.9 million. -- evaluate Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Fund and low-wealth district funding: $500,000. -- increases funding for exceptional children from $2,966.65 per student to $2,972.52: $1 million. -- fund ABCs of Public Education teacher bonuses: $90 million. -- expand "Learn and Earn" high school initiative from 15 schools to 34, with planning money for 20 more: $9.7 million. -- expand number of small specialty high schools from 11 to 32 and provide planning money for 10 more: $4.5 million. -- fund North Carolina Virtual Public Schools initiative: $2.8 million. -- upgrade public school broadband connectivity: $6 million. -- hire 100 literacy coaches at schools with eighth graders: $4.8 million. -- begins pilot program in three school districts to each provide salary supplements to 10 new math and science teachers: $515,000. -- support short-term contracts for long-delayed NCWISE computer grade book: $1.9 million. -- Kids Voting NC Funds: $250,000. University of North Carolina system -- hire professors, staff and pay for other items to meet projected enrollment increase of 7,110 students: $79 million. -- increase need-based financial aid for additional 1,730 students this fall and cover higher prices for other students: $21.6 million. -- create graduate nursing scholarship loan program: $1.2 million. -- expand Area Health Education Centers, educate psychiatrists to serve rural areas: $1.4 million. -- expand "Translational Medicine" program at UNC-Chapel Hill medical school: $2.5 million. -- first-year cost of UNC's share of North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis : $6 million. -- operating support for biotechnology initiatives at N.C. Central University and N.C. State University : $4.5 million. -- construct Family House at UNC Hospitals, a 40-bedroom facility to provide housing to patients and family members visiting the hospital: $1 million. -- additional focused growth, special needs campus funds (10 campuses): $2 million. -- increase research at N.C. Progress Board: $200,000. -- scholarships and grants to schools attending N.C. private colleges: $7.8 million. -- continue UNC-community college systems' 2+2 E-Learning Initiative: $1 million. -- expand prospective teacher scholarship loan program: $1 million. -- expand Future Teacher of North Carolina Scholarship Loan Program: $325,000. Community colleges -- meet projected increased enrollment of 2,277 students: $7.1 million. -- multicampus college enrollment growth: $601,000. -- provide one position for administration of financial aid program at each college: $3.6 million. -- purchase of instructional equipment: $10 million. -- creates competitive grant program for campuses for facility and equipment needs and for allied health projects: $20 million. -- improve nursing programs: $1 million. -- fund Rowan- Cabarrus Community College Biotechnology Training Center and Greenhouse at new North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis : $2.2 million. -- operation of N.C. Military Business Center : $1 million. -- mobile video conferencing equipment at eight colleges: $120,000. Health and Human Services -- revise Medicaid program expense forecast: -$150 million. -- inflation reimbursement rate increases for Medicaid providers: $12 million. -- 200 additional slots for Community Alternatives Program: $3 million. -- adjust reimbursement rates for skilled nursing facilities: $1.5 million. -- inflation rate increase for home health and personal care services providers: $1.5 million. -- cap counties' share of Medicaid at 2005-06 levels: $27.4 million. -- reduce funding for Gov.'s Vision Care Program: -$1.5 million. -- expand early intervention program for children up to age 3 in Division of Public Health, hire 141 workers: $7.1 million. -- expand coverage of influenza, pertussis vaccines: $5.5 million. -- permanent funds for 65 school nurses: $3.3 million. -- fund grants for Community Focused Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative: $2 million. -- provide state match for antiviral medication for first responders: $400,000. -- test anticipated additional private well water samples due to increase enforcement of well construction standards: $226,000. -- dental preventive services for children at high risk of tooth decay: $390,000. -- more funding for 93 new positions, operations with expansion of two alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers: $4 million. -- replace federal funds for services to developmentally disabled: $26 million. -- funds for community-based mental health and substance abuse services: $14.4 million. -- mental health trust fund one-time funding: $14.4 million. -- apartment housing for people with disabilities: $11.3 million. -- startup and operating funds to community-based mental health management centers for patient crisis services: $12.3 million. -- maintain caseload and reduce waiting list for child-care subsidies: $14.1 million. -- expand Smart Start childhood initiative: $13.5 million. -- reduces Work First cash assistance payments: -$2.3 million. -- cover increased costs of foster care, adoption assistance programs: $12.2 million. -- increase State/County Special Assistance rate adjustment for residents in rest homes: $2.4 million. -- increase daily rates for adult day care and adult care health care programs: $1 million. -- replace voice response unit, upgrade telephone system at Martin County child support enforcement call center: $2 million. -- use lottery money to pay for More at Four program, which is being transferred to the Department of Public Instruction: -$66.7 million. -- improve public patient access to psychiatrists: $4.5 million. -- community health center grants: $3 million. -- rural hospital funding: $3 million. Natural and Economic Resources -- emergency preparedness within Agriculture Department: $2.1 million. -- four new coastal habitat protection compliance positions: $277,000. -- five new positions, technical support for private well water safety program: $1.1 million. -- new emergency drinking water fund: $300,000. -- state aquarium operating funds: $2.5 million. -- implement new coastal recreational fishing license program: $375,000. -- matching funds for clean water, drinking water revolving funds: $6.1 million. -- monitor and cleanup Texfi site contamination: $100,000. -- One North Carolina Small Business Fund for economic development: $5 million. -- One North Carolina Fund for economic development: $15 million. -- economic development reserve fund: $10 million. -- replace Industrial Commission's electronic document system: $1.5 million. -- promote North Carolina as business destination: $1 million. -- advertise International Home Furnishings Market in High Point : $1.75 million. -- promote N.C. motor sports: $100,000. -- promote N.C. film industry: $250,000. -- proposed Advanced Vehicle Research Center in Northampton County : $3.75 million. -- provide funds to Minority Support Center to support Generations Credit Union and Latino Community Credit Union: $1.5 million. -- increase funds for N.C. Biotechnology Center and regional offices: $2.5 million. Justice and Public Safety -- legal services programs: $1 million. -- staff for Innocence Claim Review Commission if panel becomes law: $211,000. -- ongoing Justice Building renovations: $512,000. -- improve electronic filings in court system, automated evidence tracking system for open discovery: $8.5 million. -- 90 new assistant district attorneys and nine victim witness legal assistants: $4.2 million. -- replace, upgrade technology and office equipment in court system: $5.9 million. -- 75 new deputy clerks of court: $1.4 million. -- funding for 17 new District Court judges: $1.3 million. -- six new magistrates: $266,000. -- hire 13 new Guardian ad Litem staff: $780,000. -- expansion of family, drug treatment and business courts: $1.1 million. -- increase juror fees: $500,000. -- cover unpaid attorney fee applications for indigent defendants: $4.5 million. -- raise hourly rate for private assigned counsel in capital cases from $85 per hour to $95 per hour: $1.6 million. -- hire 12 new State Bureau of Investigation agents and scientists: $808,000. -- replace state and local equipment for automated fingerprint identification system: $2 million. -- upgrade N.C. sex offender registry program to include consumer access to map of offenders' homes and e-mail notification: $200,000. -- increase rate for Eckerd Wilderness Camps for at-risk youths: $2.2 million. -- operating reserve for startup of new youth development centers for juvenile offenders: $690,000. -- implement electronic, satellite monitoring of up to 300 most serious convicted sex offenders: $1.3 million. -- reserve for Department of Correction energy costs: $9.6 million. -- increase prison capacity by 468 beds over six prisons: $2.1 million. -- provide partial funding for increasing prisoner medical care expenses: $16.2 million. -- 38 medical records clerk and practical nurses in prison system: $1.4 million. -- train and equip urban search and rescue and swift water rescue teams: $440,000. -- increase maximum monthly pension payment for N.C. National Guard members from $150 to $160: $965,000. -- Gov.'s Crime Commission grant money for gang violence prevention: $1.5 million. -- assistance for N.C. National Guard families: $500,000. -- reduce crime victims compensation claims: $1 million. Transportation -- reduce Department of Transportation administration budget: -$2.5 million. -- expand assistance for capital projects at rural airports: $2 million. -- recall old license plates that need to be replaced: $1.2 million. -- close 13 local drivers license offices by December: -$82,000. -- two new drivers license mobile units: $460,000. -- additional ferry maintenance: $1 million. -- improved automated roadside weigh stations: $12.8 million. -- Highway Fund maintenance, contract resurfacing projects: $167 million. -- public transportation grants: $4 million. -- cover operational costs of Carolinian and Piedmont passenger trains: $1.2 million. -- small construction projects for economic development, safety and transportation improvements: $38 million. -- expand, provide maintenance for statewide emergency radio network: $10.2 million. -- reduce annual transfer from Highway Trust Fund to general fund: -$195 million. -- increase funds for intrastate system, urban loops: $141.1 million. -- secondary road construction: $9.3 million. Other agencies and funds -- grants for domestic violence prevention programs: $350,000. -- Cultural Sharing and Caring Program within Division of Archive and History in part to provide opera and ballet within public schools: $750,000. -- Queen Anne's Revenge archaeology project: $247,000. -- venue fee for Egyptian Art and expenses for Monet exhibits at N.C. Museum of Art: $225,000. -- Grass roots Arts Council grants: $1 million. -- state aid to local libraries: $830,000. -- continue home foreclosure protection pilot program: $1.5 million. -- reallocate four positions within Secretary of State's Office to meet new lobbying registration requirements: $136,000. -- create eight permanent and three temporary campaign finance reporting positions within State Board of Elections: $787,000. Capital projects, reserves -- revised debt service payments: -$50 million. -- state employee payroll system: $41.8 million. -- establish state emergency response account: $20 million. -- heating and cooling assistance to needy families: $10 million. -- reserve for legal expenses for state Attorney General's Office: $1.1 million. -- design, build two 100-bed veterans nursing homes: $8.8 million. -- purchase four container cranes for Port of Wilmington : $7.5 million. -- new state emergency operations center in Raleigh : $8.5 million. -- planning funds to design History Education Center at Tryon Palace : $1.5 million. -- acquire land and make improvements for planned 2,000-acre expansion at Hickory Nut Gorge State Park : $15 million. -- water resources development projects: $20 million. -- Appalachian State University capital planning for proposed College of Education Living Learning Academic Building: $1.8 million. -- Fayetteville State University capital planning for proposed science and technology complex: $1 million. -- N.C. Agricultural & Technical State University capital planning for general classroom facility: $1 million. -- N.C. School of the Arts capital planning for proposed library: $1 million. -- N.C. State University engineering school relocation to Centennial Campus: $61 million. -- UNC-Chapel Hill capital planning and site preparation for Genomics Science Building : $28.4 million. -- UNC Hospitals capital funds for master plan for hospital and UNC medical school: $3 million. -- UNC-Greensboro capital planning for proposed general classroom and office building: $2.3 million. -- UNC-Pembroke capital planning for proposed residence hall: $1 million. -- UNC-Wilmington nursing school design and construction: $27 million. -- Western Carolina University capital planning for School of Health and Gerontology Building : $2.4 million. -- Winston-Salem State University capital planning for proposed student activities center: $768,000. -- planning funds for UNC-Chapel Hill dental school expansion and for establishment of East Carolina University dental school: $7 million. Tax provisions -- reduce state portion of sales tax from 4.5 percent to 4.25 percent starting Dec. 1: -$140.1 million. -- reduce individual income tax rate for top wage earners from 8.25 percent to 8 percent starting Jan. 1, 2007: -$28.6 million. -- cap gasoline tax rate at 29.9 cents per gallon for a year. -- $250 per employee small business health insurance tax credit: -$7.2 million. ------ Source: Budget joint conference committee report, N.C. General Assembly. END URL for this article: http://www.heraldsun.com/state/6-750205.html __________________ Lori Ann Harris PO Box 26974 Raleigh , NC 27611 919-832-2648
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