Posted on 05/08/2005 3:11:34 PM PDT by TaxRelief
Last Monday, the day before the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the state's 2005-07 spending plan, Gov. Mike Easley's office came out with some good news for the state's budget situation. The governor's office reported that state revenue collections were projected to be $428 million more than anticipated.That should have sent senators jumping for joy. Common sense would have said that such a spike in revenue collections would mean that lawmakers could scale back the litany of tax increases and fees that they had planned.
Common sense did not prevail.
Instead, Senate budget writers proceeded with their plan to increase taxes on North Carolina residents by more than $1.7 billion over the next two years. Lawmakers seem to think that millions of Tar Heel family budgets should suffer so that the big spenders in Raleigh can satisfy their appetite for spending.
A good portion of the additional money - $250 million - comes from the Department of Revenue's "voluntary compliance program," an interesting name, since taxes are anything but voluntary. It gives taxpayers the opportunity to pay taxes and interest owed to the state. In return, the state agreed not to pursue civil action or criminal prosecution.
That $428 million surplus would more than cover the $413.4 million that the half-cent sales tax, initiated in 2001 as a "temporary" sales tax, would bring in over the next fiscal year.
That tax is currently scheduled to expire on June 30. However, the Senate wants to make that tax increase a permanent one.
It would more than double the amount of money expected to come in to state coffers by raising the cigarette tax by 35 cents a pack.
With the money left over, lawmakers could stop raiding the Highway Trust Fund. That way, money that motorists pay in user fees could go to highway projects - where the money rightfully belongs - rather than used for other programs, such as education, prisons and welfare programs.
Unfortunately, the Senate missed a golden opportunity to do a lot of good for families across the state. Perhaps House budget writers, when they get their shot at it, will do a better job.
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I want to thank the editors at the Kinston Free Press, who are probably the best in the state.
I'm a NC resident and I'm thoroughly frustrated with the leadership in this state but there's apparently nothing anyone can do to stop the Democrats from pillaging and plundering since they own areas like Raleigh and Charlotte which is enough to dominate state politics. Hell, we don't even have a line item budget so no one can question government's spending since we have absolutely no idea what gets spent.
Blame the NCGOP for protecting weak candidates and themselves, too.
What party did those editors endorse during the last election?
"Blame the NCGOP for protecting weak candidates and themselves, too."
TRUE!!!!
Hopefully the convention in Asheville will be a wakeup call for the NCGOP leadership.
AS has been said countless times, politicians can NEVER get enough of your money.
You must be wrong. Morgan swears he is a Republican.
So you're going to the convention and you're voting for Robinson?
I used to think that, too. Now I realize it's an elitist state: mafia in nature. Those in power in NC rob from all and give the proceeds to their select group of friends, all the while creaming the pot for themselves.
Re your #10, yes
Don't know - haven't decided yet.
If you don't vote Robinson, what else can you do to "shake them up"?
Don't know. It really is disheartening.....
I am leaning towards voting for Robinson more and more everyday that goes by.
Have you seen Ferrel speak out against the $1.7 BILLION tax increase that the Senate passed yet? I haven't.
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