The ten largest spending bills so far

Ten bills make up more than two-thirds of proposed spending so far.

The biggest requests of the 137 special appropriations bills filed so far this year all seek money for statewide programs.

$173 million: Give each victim of the state's sterilization program $50,000. 

$113.5 million: Keep the State Health Plan for state government workers, teachers and retirees afloat.

$93.9 million: Give teachers across-the-board pay raises by eliminating bonuses for end-of-the-year testing.

$93.9 million: Give teachers across-the-board pay raises by limiting bonuses for end-of-the-year testing.

$50 million: Help build low-income housing through a program that offers tax credits and other incentives. (Companion)

$50 million: Provide grants for water and sewer treatment projects.

$44 million: Pay teacher bonuses based on end-of-the-year testing that were earned but not given in the 2007-08 school year. (Companion)

$36.6 million: Fund public health initiatives on childhood obesity, HIV in prison inmates, school nurses, preterm births, flu vaccines, sexually transmitted diseases, strokes, diabetes and smoking cessation.

The proposals total $561 million, not counting the two companion bills and the second bill on teacher salaries. That's 71 percent of the $785.6 million requested so far.

Legislators have asked for $363m so far

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.



Document(s):
special-approps-02.17.2009.xls

Legislators have asked for $181m so far

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.



Document(s):
special-approps-02.12.2009.xls
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