Make it a goal to be part of goals process

Development of legislative goals package begins with proposals
County commissioners can relate to state legislators, who are constantly bombarded by various groups with their own specific interests. In most instances those advocates represent a very specific segment of the population – this can make it hard for legislators to support their cause. This is not the case for the NCACC, and that is due in part to the Association's legislative goals process.

• Click here for more information.
• Click here for more on the process or to download the proposal form.
• Session ends with 911 win
• State budget: Analysis | County-by-county lottery estimates (PDF)

Hurricane checklist: What to do before, during and after

As we have learned from past hurricanes, the effects of a storm are not just felt at the coast, but also many miles inland. You must take active steps to reduce the impact of any storm on your employees, the public you serve, and the publicly owned property that you are stewards of. Prior planning will help the effects of the storm to be less, reduce potential loss of life and property, and help you to recover faster.

• Click here for more information.
• Be Prepared, Be Safe (N.C. Emergency Management video about disaster preparedness)
• Warning: Plan now or pay later

Robeson voters OK quarter-cent sales tax

Make that 17 counties that have received voter approval to levy the additional quarter-cent sales tax. More than 69 percent of Robeson County voters said "yes" to the measure during a special referendum on Aug. 3, extending the string of successful referendums to seven dating back to March 2.

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Fiscal analysis dashboard a new resource for counties

A new Web-based dashboard on County and Municipal Fiscal Analysis is now available to help any local government in North Carolina analyze its current financial condition. In preparation for using this new tool, the School of Government is offering a series of one-day training sessions at six locations across North Carolina.

• Click here for more information.

Hayes relies on county JCPC partners

DJJDP secretary lauds county officials' efforts to help educate legislators on importance of state funding In late July, NCACC staff met with Linda Hayes, who in January 2009 was appointed secretary for the N.C. Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (DJJDP). Hayes previously served 15 years as chair of the Governor's Crime Commission, where she also chaired the Commission's Juvenile Justice Planning Committee.

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911 bill becomes law

Governor Beverly Perdue on July 23 signed H1691 (Use of 911 Funds). The new law is the result of years of work and accomplishes a longtime NCACC legislative goal.

• Click here for photos from the bill signing ceremony.
• Click here for a summary of what the new law allows, plus a recap of the legislative short session.
• Local officials thank governor, General Assembly for ABC system reform legislation

We're on Facebook, finally

The latest way county officials can keep track of NCACC news, events and issues of interest in the General Assembly is Facebook. If you are a member of Facebook, visit our page and click on the "Like" button in order to receive NCACC updates in your news feed.

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Counties hit fund balances to balance budgets

It was not an easy budget season for counties, and the numbers from the Association's annual survey of county property tax rates reflect that. Of the 100 counties, 76 maintained the same property tax rate from 2009-10, 13 raised property taxes, two decreased rates, and nine went through property revaluation. Of the nine counties that revalued their property, three counties adopted a rate that was below the revenue neutral rate, two counties adopted the revenue neutral rate and three counties adopted rates higher than the revenue neutral rate.

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