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Dear PENC
Member,
Your Legislative Update for the month of March is below. Please feel free to forward this on to others who might enjoy the information!
Register Today for Engineers Day at the General Assembly! DATE CORRECTION: April 22, 2009
Maybe you will see your legislator competing in the MATHCOUNTS Countdown Round!
CORRECTION TO THIS ITEM:
FEE Increases – The Governor recommends increasing the annual license fee on professionals from $50.00 to $200.00. This change and various smaller fee increases are expected to generate an additional $27.4 million in 2009-10 and $30.6 million in 2010-11.
Yesterday, I erroneously reported that the Governor’s recommended budget included a fee increase in the PE license renewal fee for engineers. After further investigation, it appears that this item deals with the NC Privilege License fee which is a separate fee that you pay each year to the NC Department of Revenue for the privilege of practicing engineering. There are about 20 professions that pay the annual privilege license fee including architects, attorneys, surveyors, physicians, dentists, accountants and others.
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NC's Stimulus Package and Other Items of Interest
NC’s Share of the Stimulus = $6.1 billion
These funds will address job retention and aid states with their budget shortfalls.
State Fiscal Stabilization - $1,420,454,235
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Medicaid Funding - $2,255,455,000
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Targeted Persons in Need - $ 43 million
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Community Development - $ 19.4 million
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Energy Initiatives - $207.1 million which includes funding for a major weatherization initiative ($136.7 million) and new energy initiatives ($70.4 million).
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Affordable Housing and Homelessness Prevention - $168.2 million
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Public Safety - $ 65.7 million
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Workforce Assistance - $104.4 million
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Special Children Services - $107.5 million
- Education - $716.8 million
- Transportation - $838.8 million
- Highway and Bridges - $735.5 million
- Transit Capital Grants - $103.3 million
- Drinking Water and Wastewater Capital Improvements - $136.9 million
- Drinking Water - $ 65.6 million
- Wastewater - $ 71.3 million
General Comments:
- Short on infrastructure
- Transportation Funds will flow through the equity formula so projects like replacement of the Yadkin River Bridge will not be addressed with NC’s share of stimulus. However, NCDOT is requesting discretionary funding in the national stimulus package to address this issue and has met with the NC Congressional Delegation and the President.
- Competitive grant process for high speed rail funds – Charlotte to DC will be top of the list
- NC ranks 11th lowest in transportation funds
- Funding to modernize military facilities.
- “Green” funding – State office of Energy has not yet determined distribution
- Smart Grid initiatives and tax incentives
More on Transportation:
North Carolina’s expected share of highway and bridge funding is $735 million to be distributed by the state equity formula, and $103 million in transit federal formula grants. Fifty percent (50%) of available funds are required to be obligated by states within 120 days, and the remainder within one year of enactment. Governor Perdue is already beginning to put the federal recovery funds to work in North Carolina to help create jobs and stimulate local economies. She anticipates that approximately 14,000 jobs will be created throughout the state as a result of the federal economic recovery funds. Seventy “shovel-ready” projects totaling $466 million have been identified across the state utilizing the first half of available funding for highways and bridges. Projects that will be funded from the remaining funds for highways and bridges and transit funds are currently being identified and should be completed soon. Projects selected for funding have been and will continue to be strategically selected to represent geographical diversity and broad scope, and will benefit a wide range and size of partners in the transportation industry.
Perdue Has Already Identified Specific Projects
Road Decisions - The Governor has given authority for approving transportation projects to the Secretary. Click here to read article.
Energy News
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For Your Information:
PENC CAPWIZ Site is available 24/7 on www.penc.org with the latest legislative updates and alerts (find the link under Government Affairs).
Legislative Newsletters are issued at least bi-weekly during legislative session.
PENC Legislative Committee Conference Calls are bi-weekly during legislative session.
PENC/ACEC Committee of 6 which includes thePresident, President Elect and Legislative Chair from ACEC and PENC collaborates on issues of mutual concern and interest.
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If there are questions or you need additional information, please feel free to contact me at bbailey@penc.org or phone 919-424-4412.
Sincerely,
Betsy Bailey
Professional Engineers
of North Carolina
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Governor’s Budget Expects Economy to Improve in 2010-2011
Although a stagnant North Carolina economy is expected in 2009, economists in
the state budget office predict a recovery to begin in early 2010 as
manufacturing losses stabilize, construction rebounds, and the service sector
remains a solid source of growth. The unemployment rate is predicted to peak just below 10% in 2010 before falling to the 9.0% level in 2011. Employment gains will be led by the education and health services sector, which is projected to average 2.5% growth over the next several years. After a significant decline in 2009, the professional and business services sector is expected to register solid job growth in 2010 and 2011. Construction employment is likely to experience significant job losses over the next several years as construction activity has fallen dramatically. Specifically, construction employment is projected to decline 11.3# in 2009 and 7% in 2010 before finally realizing small job gains in 2011. Manufacturing will continue it’s decline before stabilizing in 2010 and 2011.
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Contact
Us
Professional Engineers
of North Carolina
920 Main Campus Dr.
Suite 101
Raleigh, NC 27606
Phone: (919) 424-4555
Fax: (919) 424-4401
Web Site: www.penc.org
E-Mail: exec@penc.org
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