Joint statement of the NCACC and the N.C. League of Municipalities
Local government officials thank governor and General Assembly for ABC system reform legislation

North Carolina local government officials today thanked Gov. Beverly Perdue for signing into law H1717 (Modernization of the State ABC System). This significant reform of the ABC system requires adoption of ethics policies, transparency and consistency in locally adopted salaries and a much more disciplined, understandable process for ensuring financial accountability.

"Counties will now have the authority and correct tools in place to address the ethical and salary concerns that have been reported in isolated areas across the state. It was clear that a better system of checks and balances was needed. This new legislation definitely provides that," said NCACC Executive Director David F. Thompson. "We sincerely appreciate the leadership of Gov. Perdue and the Legislature in supporting our county governments on this issue."

Working with the leadership of the Governor's Office and the General Assembly, the N.C. Association of County Commissioners, N.C. League of Municipalities and the N.C. Association of ABC Boards worked to incorporate major ethical and oversight reform while maintaining the emphasis on local control of the ABC system.

"We support and sincerely thank Gov. Perdue, Sen. Don Vaughan, Rep. Ray Warren and ABC Commissioner Jon Williams for their excellent leadership in ensuring that proper discipline and oversight was put into the law so that the local governments, ABC Boards and the state ABC Commission can work in partnership to demand that ethics, accountability and transparency are the hallmarks of all local ABC systems," said S. Ellis Hankins, NCLM executive director.

"The law signed today truly strengthens a very good system, one that is fundamentally sound and has served North Carolina communities well for 75 years. We look forward to many years under these tough, fair and much higher standards," he said.