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2 <br /> r <br /> The attached newspaper articles outline the extent to which the state's system is being taxed by <br /> the rabies epidemic and highlight the fact that Governor Hunt's budget contains $100,000 to hire <br /> another state veterinarian and pay for rabies education materials. One article also indicates that <br /> half the money to provide the funding may come from adding a nickel to the 2.5 cents that the <br /> state charges veterinarians for each pet rabies tag. There is some concern in the rabies control <br /> community that this funding mechanism may result in veterinarians choosing to purchase rabies <br /> tags elsewhere resulting in less oversight by local rabies control programs. Some advocates feel <br /> that this funding measure should be accompanied by a requirement that the tags be purchased <br /> from the state to assure good internal control. <br /> Finally, attached is a letter from Dr. William H. Pryor, Jr., Professor and Chair of the Department <br /> of Comparative Medicine at the ECU School of Medicine. His letter outlines reasons to support <br /> the Governor's expansion budget provision of$100,000 to the Division of Epidemiology of the <br /> Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources (DEHNR). The letter is addressed to <br /> Senator R.L. Martin who is Chair of the Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic <br /> Resources(NER). This committee is reviewing the DEHNR budget. <br /> Recommendation: To receive the report as information. <br />