Washington, D.C. welcomes county officials in March

N.C. counties will caucus, visit with congressional delegation during Legislative Conference
County officials from across the country will convene in the nation’s capital March 3-7 for the National Association of Counties’ annual Legislative Conference. The conference is being held at the Washington Hilton. The NCACC has scheduled three events specifically for North Carolina attendees.

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Six district meetings set for April

The Association has announced locations for its series of six district meetings to be held this April.

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Value outweighs challenges of running a license plate agency

Ashe, McDowell officials share experiences with implementation
Over the past few years, several counties across North Carolina have contracted with the Division of Motor Vehicles to operate license plate agencies. While it might seem like a natural fit for a county to operate an agency, McDowell County Manager Chuck Abernathy says there are a lot of issues to consider.

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Optional jail program can benefit state and counties

Evolution of bill creating program shows importance of partnership with Legislature
On Jan. 1, the Statewide Misdemeanor Confinement Program officially began. The program pays counties to house misdemeanants with sentences between 90 and 180 days – inmates who would normally be assigned to a state prison. Counties that have extra bed space in their county jails can choose to participate in the program and receive a per diem for housing the extra prisoners that should more than cover any costs incurred. The program truly represents a win-win for the state and counties. The state is able to relieve some of the overcrowding in the state prison system by diverting some short-term inmates to county jails. And counties with extra space that choose to participate in the program can receive a new revenue stream to support jail operations.

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Partnership essential in biz recruiting

Secretary of Commerce addresses Board of Directors
Secretary of Commerce Keith Crisco told members of the NCACC Board of Directors on Dec. 14 that while North Carolina has many advantages in the ever-competitive world of business recruitment, the state can continue to set itself apart through a collaborative approach and a strong partnership between the state and counties.

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Macon meeting reveals successes, challenges

The NCACC’s Government Relations team visited five counties during the final quarter of 2011 to learn about issues affecting those counties and to build relationships with county officials. Team members traveled to Macon County to visit with commissioners and department heads. Sen. Jim Davis, who represents the eight westernmost counties in North Carolina, also attended.

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Advocacy efforts bear fruit

We have seen two examples recently of the power that county commissioners can exert on both state and federal issues. In November, President Barack Obama signed into law a bill that repealed the onerous 3 percent withholding mandate that was enacted when the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act was passed in 2005. The original mandate would have required local governments to collect 3 percent of the value of any contracts and send the money to the IRS as prepayment for taxes. In Raleigh, our efforts were focused on a bill that would give counties flexibility in deciding how to organize our local human services delivery.

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• Human services bill stalls on House floor | Legislative Bulletin #11-24
• Visits help NCACC build relationships in counties
• Halftime adjustments in legislative biennium
• 2011 legislative session in review

Legislative committee and commission schedules

Due to the sheer number of legislative committees and commissions, the Association cannot provide a comprehensive and updated listing of these events. County officials are encouraged to review the list of standing and interim committees and submit a request for e-mail notification of selected meetings via the N.C. General Assembly's Web site.

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• Click here for 2011 legislative session deadlines and important dates.

NCACC Legislative Goals:

Links of interest