Revenue proposals keep state budget at bay

House and Senate budget negotiators have agreed to the amount of a financing package that would result in $900 million in new taxes for the 2009-10 fiscal year and $1.3 billion for the 2010-11 fiscal year, but there doesn’t appear to be much agreement on a specific tax proposal.

• Click here for more from Legislative Bulletin #09-22.
• State budget process marches on
• Click here for a list of state budget conferees.

NCACC First Vice President Joe Bryan welcomes Governor Beverly Perdue to the Albert Coates Local Government Center for a meeting of the Governor's Local Government Advisory Council on June 22. (Photo by Jason King)

Perdue meets with local government officials

Governor Beverly Perdue met with members of her Local Government Advisory Council on June 22 and touched on a variety of subjects, including the ongoing phase out the county Medicaid share and alternative revenues for counties.

• Click here for more information.

Tweet, tweet! We're on Twitter

The NCACC has joined the Twitter craze. Using the popular social networking message service, the NCACC (twitter.com/ncacc) is posting updates on legislation of interest to counties and county-specific developments on funding opportunities through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (federal stimulus). The frequent and timely updates make it easy for county officials to learn about the latest developments in these areas.

• Click here for more information.
• Tuned in to or turned off by social media? (April 2009)

Counties build sustainability in their own ways

One of the NCACC's major focuses this year is sustainability. More specifically, "building county sustainability" will be the focus of the 102nd Annual Conference, which will be held Aug. 27-30 at the Hickory Metro Convention Center in Catawba County. At each of the NCACC's six district meetings held in April, the NCACC hosted a number of county officials involved in model county sustainability projects.

• Search for alternative fuels drives research in Duplin (June 2009)
• Iredell takes 'common sense' approach to building (June 2009)
• Beaufort County sustainability project rooted in farming (May)
• Home-grown Franklin County initiative has healthy outlook (May)
• Haywood focuses on recycling and conservation (April)
• Folks in Polk embrace their agricultural roots (April)

Revenue head seeks common ground for communications

Secretary Kenneth Lay says he would like to have regular meetings with county officials
As one of its initiatives, the NCACC strategic goals team charged with "enhancing the state-county relationship through effective communication and the development of a working partnership" is interviewing members of Governor Beverly Perdue's Cabinet and Council of State. In mid-May, team members sat down with Kenneth R. Lay, who was appointed Secretary of the Department of Revenue in January.

• Click here for more information.
• NCACC Board of Directors hears from new DHHS, DOR chiefs (April 28, 2009)
• Q&A with DHHS Secretary Lanier Cansler (May 2009)

eCivis shares 10 winning tactics for writing grants

With the majority of funding to counties from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act coming in the form of grants, now more than ever it is important for county officials to know and understand what makes for a successful grant application. With that in mind, eCivis, an NCACC endorsed services provider, is sharing 10 grant writing tips.

• Click here for more information.
• Information on federal stimulus

Dr. Prasad Vasamsetti and an assistant treat a patient in the Pender County Health Department's Mobile Dental Clinic, a program that earned the county an Outstanding County Program Award for 2008.

Problem solvers

Seven counties address problems through innovative ideas and earn Outstanding County Program Awards from the NCACC
The NCACC is recognizing seven county programs in May with Outstanding County Program Awards for 2008.

• Click here for more information.
• Click here for more information on the awards program.

Population boom continues around state's urban centers

Union County again leads N.C. in growth; population drops in 18 rurals since April 2000
As North Carolina continues its climb to a projected population of more than 12.2 million by 2030, the perceived divide between the "two North Carolinas" is widening. The July 2008 population estimates, released March 19 by the U.S. Census Bureau, reveal that between April 2000 and July 2008, 25 Tar Heel counties either grew by less than 1 percent or decreased in population. Union County grew by a whopping 56 percent during that same timeframe, and 15 others grew by more than 20 percent.

• Click here for more information.
• N.C. county population estimates and rates of growth (XLS)

Report gives N.C. a 'C-minus' grade for infrastructure

The American Society of Civil Engineers graded North Carolina in nine subjects in its 2009 update to its Report Card for America's Infrastructure, and the state’s grades ranged from a B-minus in drinking water infrastructure to a D-minus in roads. Schools and storm water infrastructure each received C-minus grades; wastewater fared a little better with a C-plus. Overall, the state graded out with a C-minus.

• Click here for more information.