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L� <br />d� <br />a <br />cAIIuzE x1f �Rryresenfaliffro <br />�5laxle Iegizlaltffr 39uilbing <br />ga etg4 27601. logs <br />REPRESENTATIVE VERLA C. INSKO i <br />i <br />24TH DISTRICT - CHATHAM AND ORANGE <br />OFFICE ADDRESS: 1323 LEGISLATIVE BUILDING <br />RALEIGH, NC 27601 -1095 <br />TELEPHONE: (919) 733 -5775 <br />(919) 733 -2599 FAX <br />E-MAIL: VERLAI @MS.NCGA.STATE.NC.US <br />HOME ADDRESS: 610 SORRY ROAD <br />CHAPEL HILL, NC 27514 <br />August 15, 2000 <br />Dear Friends, <br />COMMITTEES: <br />AGING — CHAIR <br />EDUCATION /UNIVERSITIES SUBCOMMITTEE — CHAIR <br />HEALTH — VICE-CHAIR <br />STATE PERSONNEL — VICE-CHAIR <br />APPROPRIATIONS /EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE <br />ELECTION LAW & CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM <br />JUDICIARY I <br />MENTAL HEALTH <br />When the General Assembly convened in May for the short session, legislators had three <br />primary goals— approve a higher education bond issue, adopt a budget before July 1 and <br />finish the session by mid -July. I'm happy to say we accomplished all three goals. <br />We approved a $3.1 billion bond package for higher education in the first two weeks of <br />the session. On June 30, we passed a $14 billion budget the first time in 20 years that <br />legislators passed a budget on time two years in a row. And we adjourned on July 14th. <br />Budget Highlights. <br />The budget picture was not at all bright as we started the session. We faced a $450 <br />million shortfall, and the Governor's proposed budget included no money for new <br />construction, repairs of state buildings or the "rainy day" fund. In addition, he proposed <br />borrcwin g $240 million to pay the intangibles settlement. <br />Legislators were unhappy. So, we went to work and found money by tapping excess <br />reserves in several trust funds and by shifting the budget year for some state employee <br />paychecks. <br />As a result, we were able to pass a $14 billion budget that gives teachers a 6.5% pay raise <br />and all other state employees a 4.2% raise and a $500 bonus. It also refunds $240 million <br />in intangibles taxes, provides $120 million to begin rebuilding the state's "rainy day" <br />fund, and allocates $30 million to the Clean Water Trust Fund and $100 million for repair <br />and renovation of state buildings. <br />®1r <br />I A$1 <br />