'County Connections'

The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners' weekly radio program, “County Connections,” airs Thursdays at approximately 8:30 a.m. on WDNZ-AM 570 in the Raleigh area and simulcast on State Government Radio (www.stategovernmentradio.com).

The program will be rebroadcast throughout the rest of the day on the SGR Web site. In addition, the programs will be archived on the SGR Web site and on the NCACC Web site.

County Connections has completed its 2006 series. The show will return prior to the 2007 legislative session.

Show archives (2006)

• Update on bills (.MP3) concerning video franchising, motor vehicle property taxes, eminent domain, landfill moratorium, tipping fees with NCACC Assistant General Counsel Paul Meyer (June 29, 2006)
• The driving forces behind rising property tax rates (.MP3) with NCACC Director of Communications Todd McGee (June 22, 2006)
• The importance of the House budget's inclusion of $53 million in Medicaid relief (.MP3) for counties with NCACC Director of Communications Todd McGee (June 15, 2006)
• Impact fees in relation to the N.C. Court of Appeals' recent ruling against Durham County, and the need for alternative revenue options for counties (.MP3) with Durham County Manager Mike Ruffin (June 8, 2006)
• Purpose, opportunities and highlights of the 99th Annual Conference (.WMA) with NCACC Director of Communications Todd McGee (June 1, 2006)
• Medicaid relief efforts and other county-related issues in the Legislature (.MP3) with NCACC Assistant General Counsel Paul Meyer (May 25, 2006)
• How the state budget impacts county budgets; Medicaid relief proposals update (.WMA) with NCACC Director of Communications Todd McGee (May 11, 2006)
• Medicaid relief efforts in the legislative short session (.MP3) with NCACC Director of Research and Public Technology Rebecca Troutman (May 4, 2006)

Show archives (2005 - all files .WMA)

• A special five-part segment detailing the career of longtime NCACC Executive Director Ron Aycock was broadcast on June 30, 2005. Links to each segment are listed below:
  • Part I - The early years: regionalism, working with Gov. Hunt and the creation of the Albert Coates Local Government Center
  • Part II - Why the Risk Management Pools were started and how counties have benefited
  • Part III - Significant legislative victories and Medicaid relief efforts
  • Part IV - How the nature of lobbying has changed and what challenges lie ahead for counties
  • Part V - Challenges facing counties and the Association’s evolution in helping face those challenges; what Ron will miss about working at the NCACC and his plans for retirement

• Overview of county government with NCACC Director of Communications Todd McGee (June 16, 2005)
• Overview of Medicaid relief proposals with NCACC Director of Communications Todd McGee (June 9, 2005)
• How an increase in the cigarette tax and the enactment of a state lottery can help relieve counties of their Medicaid costs and meet education needs with President Breeden Blackwell (June 2, 2005)
• Overview of NCACC educational opportunities with NCACC Director of Communications Todd McGee (May 19, 2005)
• Senate budget analysis with NCACC Executive Director Ron Aycock (May 12, 2005)
• County budgets with Alexander County Manager Rick French (May 5, 2005)
• Federal issues update with NCACC Research and Technology Director Rebecca Troutman (April 28, 2005)
• Growing pains with county managers Randell Woodruff (Camden), Rick Hester (Johnston) and Mike Shalati (Union) (April 21, 2005)
• School construction needs with First Vice President Kitty Barnes (April 14, 2005)
• Medicaid relief with President Breeden Blackwell (April 7, 2005)

All files are Windows Media Audio (WMA) format unless otherwise indicated.