Agenda - 05-21-1997 - 5a - Laserfiche WebLink

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a 12 Legislatieve u e 1n a � 0 9 North Carolina Association of County Commissioners �O •1: y Mailing Address-P.O. Box 1488, Raleigh,NC 27602-1488 oR CourrO Sneer Address-Albert Coates Local Government Center, 215 N. Dawson Street, Raleigh, NC 27603 Telephone 919-715-2893 -Fax 919-733-1065 - Email NCACC @NCACC.org Home Page Address http://ncinfo.iog.unc.edu/NCACC Bulletin #14-97 Friday, May 2, 1997 SENATE APPROVES OPEN PERSONNEL RECORDS On Thursday the Senate, by a 25-21 vote, approved a revised version of Senate Bill 799, a bill to require local governments and state agencies to maintain open and accessible personnel files that include information not now available to the public. S799,introduced by Sen. Roy Cooper(Nash) is opposed by local government organizations including the Association of County Commissioners,the League of Municipalities and the School Boards Association as well as organizations representing state employees and teachers. It was approved following the adoption of several floor amendments. SENATE APPROVES OPEN MEETINGS CHANGES On Thursday the Senate approved a revised version of Senate Bill 844, legislation"to require accounts of closed"sessions under North Carolina's Open Meetings Law. After having re-referred the bill to Committee during floor debate Tuesday,the Senate withdrew it from Committee, adopted a floor amendment offered by sponsor Sen. David Hoyle(Gaston), and approved the bill unanimously on second and third readings. As rewritten,the bill would require any entity covered by the Open Meetings Law to "keep an account of(any)closed session so that a person not in attendance would have a reasonable understanding of what transpired." The"accounts"could"be a written narrative,or video or audio recordings." The bill also proposes to amend the provisions of the Open Meetings Law dealing with closed sessions for discussion of"matters relating to the location or expansion of industries or other businesses in the area served by the public body." The bill would add language to G.S. 143-318.11 (a)(4), as follows: "A public body shall not vote to offer economic incentives in a closed session. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit negotiations in any way with a prospective industry or business." BIENNIAL BUDGET TAKES SHAPE Last week,.the Senate approved its version of the state budget. The following summary highlights appropriations of interest to county governments. Compensation Increases • 6.5%on average for public school teachers and instructional support personnel. (This appropriation relates to the Governor's initiative to increase teacher sdlaries to the national average over the next four years.) • 3%Cost of Living increase for other public school-personnel and other state employees. Public Schools • S5 million additional for the Low Wealth School Supplemental Fund • $20 million for public school technology • S3.5 million reduce middle school class size for students below grade level achievement • $67.5 million for ABC Incentive Grants to local school systems • S3.0 million additional for supplies and materials Community Colleges • $10 million for enhanced Occupational Extension • S9 million for enrollment increases