2007 News from the Legislature

December 13, 2007

The per pupil appropriation for driver education for the 2007-2008 school year is $245.03.  The money is in the budget to take care of the increase in eligible students as well. 

Section 27.12 in the Transportation Section of the Budget reads:

It is the intent of the General Assembly to phase out funds transfers from the Highway Fund and the Highway Trust Fund to the General Fund and to other state agencies over a five year period of time.  The funds transfers from the Highway Fund and the Highway Trust Fund to the General Fund and to other state agencies would be reduced to 50% of the current funds transfers effective July 1, 2009.  The funds transfers would be reduced an additional 50% July 1, 2011.

The funds transfers will be eliminated completely effective July 1, 2013. 

This is an issue that will be discussed at length before the beginning of the short session of the legislature next May. 

I will be watching the discussions carefully and will report to NCDTSEA anything that I think will affect our funding.

Gene Causby

August 21, 2007

I heard from Gene Causby and he reported the following:

•  Per pupil allotment this year is $245.03.

June 4, 2007

I heard from Gene Causby this morning and he reports the following:

•  Money for the increase in enrollment for ninth graders is in both the Senate and House budgets so it should be a done deal

•  Proposal for non-certified personnel is 4.25% in House and 4% in Senate

•  Gene has been assured that the per pupil allotment will be adjusted when the budget is passed

•  2% COLA for retirees is in both budgets so that is probably a done deal

If the two temporary taxes that the Senate wants to let expire in their budget are allowed to do so, it will mean a difference of 600 million dollars in revenue.  I asked Gene if he was hearing any rumblings of any kind concerning driver education and he said he had heard nothing about anyone out to get us at this point.

Phil McGirt

May 10, 2007

I talked to Mr. Causby this afternoon about 4:00 p.m. and he informs me that the House version of the budget should be passed by the full House today. It includes the following that affects us:

•  5% pay raise for teachers

•  4.25% pay raise for non-certified and all other personnel

•  $300,000 for driver ed for the increase in 9th grade enrollment

•  $33,285,956 total for driver ed (will be adjusted when we get a final figure on the salary increase for teachers)

•  Deductible for the health plan will go from $350 to $450

•  Premium for dependents will go up 14.9%

•  Premium for PPO will increase 12.8%

•  Retirees will get 2% COLA

•  Co-pay for generic drugs will go from $15.00 to $25.00

•  Co-pay for brand name from $25.00 to $30.00

These are just some of the highlights of the things that will affect us.  Of course, the Senate will come out with their version of the budget now, and then a conference committee will hammer out the final budget, hopefully before July 1.

He further stated that he was not aware of SB375 that I emailed you about earlier today, but he would follow up on it and let us know. 

Phil McGirt

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