State legislators have now asked for $778.7 million.

A total of 130 bills filed since the start of the session have requested special appropriations for various state programs and causes.

That's about 25 percent of the likely $3 billion budget shortfall.

Thirty-one of the bills are companions filed in the other chamber, and three other bills are similar. Bills filed in both chambers total $162.3 million.

The 68 House spending bills total $523.8 million; 61 Senate spending bills, $531.8 million.

The largest spending bill to date is Sen. Larry Shaw's request for $173 million to compensate victims of the state's sterilization program, which is unlikely to pass. The second largest is Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand's request for $113.5 million to shore up the State Health Plan, which is likely to pass.

Other large requests are for $93 million to supplement teacher salaries, $50 million for wastewater treatment projects, $50 million for low-income housing, $44 million to pay teacher bonuses, and $36 million for public health programs.

The smallest request is for $10,000 to upgrade a day care.

Only 11 spending bills totaling $70.8 million have a Republican among their primary sponsors.

The bills also request $434.8 million in the 2010-'11 budget.

State legislators have now asked for $363.2 million.

Eleven more bills filed since Dome last checked have added another $181.3 million in requested spending, even as the state faces a $2 billion shortfall.

The largest request of the most recent batch — or any bill to date — is $173 million for compensation of victims of the state's eugenics program. That's $154 million more than the amount requested in a similar House bill for compensation.

The smallest requests are $50,000 each for the Arthritis Foundation to run programs in Charlotte and Our Children's Place to run a prison mothers program.

Other spending bills would pay for a community college mentoring program for minority males, help run a heart institute at East Carolina University, support the International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, fund programs at the N.C. Arts Council, build a John Coltrane Music Hall in High Point and build a new campus for Stanly Community College.

Another bill is a companion to money already requested for the state Housing Trust Fund.

In all the requests amount to 18 percent of the estimated shortfall.

The bills also call for another $4.9 million to be spent next year, bringing the total to $32.9 million for 2010-11 requests.

Ongoing coverage of spending bills is available here.

State legislators have now asked for $181.4 million.

Eight more bills filed since Dome last checked have added another $60.7 million in requested spending, even as the state faces a $2 billion shortfall.

The largest request of the most recent batch is $50 million for the N.C. Housing Trust Fund, which finances low-income housing. The smallest is $50,000 for a caisson coordinator at the State Highway Patrol, an amount already requested in another bill.

Other spending bills would help run senior centers, provide block grants for home and community care, support people with dementia and their caregivers, fund a pilot program for adult protective services, and help domestic violence shelters.

In all, the requests amount to nine percent of the estimated shortfall.

The bills also call for another $11.1 million in spending next year, bringing the total requests for that budget year to $27.9 million.

Ongoing coverage of spending bills is available here.

State Rep. Deborah Ross wants to let other cities follow Charlotte's model.

The Raleigh Democrat plans to reintroduce a bill that would allow municipalities that come up with regional mass-transit plans levy an additional sales tax to fund it.

A half-cent local sales tax in Mecklenburg County levied since 2007 has paid for city buses and a new light-rail line in Charlotte.

Because they are viewed as to a certain extent voluntary, sales taxes are often more popular than other taxes with voters.

Sen. Richard Stevens, a Cary Republican, is expected to introduce a companion bill. Both bills will also include requirements that municipalities show they have come up with a workable regional plan before levying the tax.

Ross noted that municipalities already have six options for paying for transit systems, including vehicle registration fees, rental car taxes and property taxes.

"This would just add one more option," she said. 

On other issues, she said she would work to maintain the state's funding of the N.C. Housing Trust Fund, expand child care options for community college students, reconsider rules on children testifying in court and keep the State Health Plan affordable.

State Rep. Jennifer Weiss has her eye on mental health.

The Cary Democrat said that her biggest priority in the short session is increasing funding for the state's mental health system, particularly in light of problems with recent reform efforts.

"We've really got to make sure that we have adequate beds at state hospitals for people in crisis," she said. 

On other issues, she said that she will focus on helping people dealing with home foreclosures, increasing the state's annual spending on the Housing Trust Fund and expanding health care access.

She'll also be looking at recommendations from task forces on heart disease and stroke prevention and reducing child fatalities. 

State Rep. Deborah Ross has her eye on education.

The Raleigh Democrat says her biggest goal for the budget is a raise for teachers and state employees, though she did not have a specific amount in mind.

"I don't want to give a number because then they'll be mad at me because I didn't say a high enough number," she said. "I'm hoping that we can do as well as we did last year."

In the 2007-08 budget,  teachers, UNC faculty and community college instructors received a 5 percent increase, while most state employees got a 4 percent raise.

Ross said she also hopes to land the rest of the funding for the Green Square project in downtown Raleigh, increase the contribution to the Housing Trust Fund to $50 million a year, add consumer protection measures on foreclosures and put a transportation bond before voters.

She also wants more funding for domestic violence shelters and other changes. 

"We want to reduce the number of violations of domestic violence protective orders you need before it's considered a felony," she said. 

Bob Orr says the state should boost the Housing Trust Fund.

After a tour of Western North Carolina, the Republican gubernatorial candidate told the Asheville Citizen-Times that the region needs more affordable housing.

That could mean boosting the fund further. Last year, the Campaign for Housing Carolina got the legislature to increase the fund to $19 million for the 2006-07 budget year. It is pushing for an annual $50 million appropriation.

"I may not have said 'yes' prior to going up there," he said. "I think I would say 'yes' now. I think it’s going to become an ever-increasing problem."