newsobserver.com projects - scholarships - Comments

Re: Cowell: Scholarship fund draining

Kingixolib — Sat, 16 May 2009 18:12:34 -0400

She's gotta be a democRAT, right?

Re: Cowell: Scholarship fund draining

PlaybyPlay — Fri, 15 May 2009 22:46:11 -0400

Though I am now very excited about the Shane's Rib Shack half rack of ribs give away tomorrow, I don't think that was the link you meant to post for the document.

Re: Cowell: Scholarship fund draining

PlaybyPlay — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:24:57 -0400

Maybe they mean the money being held by the SEAA, not the actual escheats fund? Still doesn't seem to add up though when you are talking about spending $210 million each year for scholarships out of the SEAA fund.

The North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (SEAA) is an agency of the State of North Carolina and is authorized by the General Assembly to administer post-secondary education programs of student financial assistance created under Federal or State law. North Carolina General Statute 116B-7 provides that the interest earnings from the Escheat Fund, minus administrative expenses, be deposited with the SEAA. The law further provides that this money will be utilized to provide grants and low interest loans to worthy and needy North Carolina students in State-supported schools of higher education. In July 2008, $27,483,811 was deposited with the SEAA for this purpose. This will provide over 50,000 additional grants and low-interest loans to North Carolina students in State-supported schools of higher education.

Who's money is it?

PlaybyPlay — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:09:44 -0400

Are they using the principle funds that come from the funding resources you listed? I was under the impression that money was required to be divested from companies into an account controlled by the state so that people could later find and be returned the money that is theirs, not the states. There are a number of websites that allow you to look up if you have lost money. But, I have noticed that NC is not a participant in the sites I have searched so far. Maybe that is because the NC government wants the money for themselves. Much like a lot of people’s tax refunds they are holding. There are other funding resources for the escheats funds that are not the property of citizens, is that the source of the public spending from this account? If not, what if people want their money and now the state has spent it? Is the state required to keep that money on hand or are they allowed to spend it as they want and are just liable for any claims?

Maybe this is more for Ask Dome...

Re: Scholarship fund running dry

domewatcher — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 11:24:45 -0500

The Transpark is a lot like ole' Uncle Dan. You know, that crazy uncle who comes to the family reunion. He's a good guy but there's just something about him that ain't exactly right.

There have been studies on the GTP since time began but everyone just pushes them aside. I think the first study of the GTP is in the Book of Genesis.

As to what has been created? A monster. A behemoth. I believe the original estimate was 50,000 jobs by 1997. Actual job creation is somewhat less than that.....about 49,500 less I believe.

But we got a nice GTP parkway down there. It doesn't go anywhere but it sure is nice. We go out there after church and ride up and down. There ain't no traffic and once in a while you might see an airplane. And we're getting ready to build us a railroad out there.

But seriously, everything is gonna be all right. Once we get an interstate highway....and once we reroute the intercoastal waterway.....and then dredge a port.....then everything will be just fine. In the meantime, y'all just keep sending us a check.

Re: Scholarship fund running dry

j1c2kp — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:50:47 -0500

Ryan how long has it been since there has been an in-depth reporting of the Global Boondoggle? Might be good to refresh folks on the amount of money spent, what has been created, etc. What are salaries for GTP?

Re: Scholarship fund running dry

CitizenOpinionated — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:24:41 -0500

That money went to the same place that the money that was supposed to be used to repay the General Fund that was given to the Highway Trust Fund under Hagan's leadership on budget committee.

Re: Scholarship fund running dry

domewatcher — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 09:08:07 -0500

What is the status of the "loan" made to the Global Transpark?

I seem to recall that the Escheat Fund loaned the Transpark some $25,000,000. Last I heard the loan, with accrued interest, was well over $30,000,000. And the legislature has to fund the GTP each year just so the GTP can pay the light bill.

Maybe those students who could not go to college because the Escheat Fund loaned $25,000,000 to the Transpark.....well, maybe they can get a job at the Transpark.

Stupid, stupid, stupid bill.......

ThomasPaine — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:11:20 -0500

Stupid, stupid, STUPID bill...... short-sighted and stupid. Bill Friday is a utopian clod who is totally against college athletics across the board. The handful of athletes whom this impacts actually end up contributein a return on investment 1000 times anything spent on them through their athletic excellence with their teams which results in millions of dollars in athletic ticket sales, etc. as well as championship exposure which raises the profile of each of the universities. Unless you are going to force all universities ACROSS the COUNTRY to live by this mandate- then you are selectively punishing our own university programs, putting our programs at a disadvantage which ultimately forces athletes to other states and hurts North Carolina. Stupid, stupid, STUPID bill. And the reasoning?-- "these tough econmic times" .... in light of the return on investment these athletes contribute??? Please.... get a clue. Stupid.... stupid bill.

Re: On the Budget: Deborah Ross

concerned_citizen — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:46:21 -0500

There's also a lot of tuition breaks given other out-of-state students, especially graduate students who will never stay in the state. Other states have provisions that someone only gets a scholarship or tuition break if they work/live in the state for 4 years after school. I think we should have that policy here, too

Re: Scholarships for children of fallen police and firefighters

ethanperry — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 22:42:36 -0500

At first blush, there is a tendency to say this is a nice gesture and isn't without merit, but who will look after the children of hardworking citizens who "die while working". Don't these children deserve the same level of consideration?

So, maybe the proposed legislation should not only include our public safety officers, but any citizen who has a good record of working during their adult lives and lived responsibily while raising a family.

Still, I would like to see the proposed legislation because, as they say, the devil is in the details, and these men are politicians. If they were wanting to do good, perhaps they would have helped pass the Employer-Employee type legislation in the past session that would have given these officers the right to collective bargaining. Maybe they did?

In the end, if the legislation were written to truly benefit them, I would likely support it because most of these men and women aren't paid a decent wage and the work they do is as important as any I know. This would be a targeted benefit hopefully few would receive.

Re: An unusual scholarship program

wisdom4all — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:02:25 -0400

I do not think our tax dollars should provide sports scholarships. We place too much emphasis on sports. It seems that we are trying to participate in the professional sports arena with college sports and that is not what colleges should emphasize. We need to do more to educate these kids to take their place in the job market and society and contribute something meaningful. How do these kids keep up when they spend so much time on travel and sports venues? I paid for my children's education and I do not feel any obligation to pay for kids to play sports.