Gov. Beverly Perdue's budget includes a few projects.

A 118-page summary of the governor's proposed $21 billion budget has a number of specific projects it seeks to fund:

* Fund UNC-Chapel Hill Biomedical Research Center: $10 million.

* Support East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine program for indigent care in Eastern Carolina: $4 million.

* Set up the Office of Economic Recovery, a short-term agency set up to maximize federal stimulus money: $2.3 million.

* Fund Project C.A.R.E., which helps caregivers of people with dementia: $500,000.

* Begin planning for a foundation that would compensate victims of the state's decades-long eugenics sterilization program: $250,000.

Some of the money has also been requested in special appropriations bills: Project C.A.R.E., the UNC expansion and indigent care at ECU, though legislators sought significantly more money for sterilization compensation.

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.

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.

Three spending bills are among the most popular in the House.

Proposed appropriations bills to teach children about the state's sterilization program, compensate its victims and run a Kids Voting program have more than 30 cosponsors.

That means they have the support of more than a fourth of the 120 members of the House, a good indicator that they'll be seriously considered. 

Whether they will be added to the budget or pass the Senate is another matter. So far, only the Kids Voting bill has a companion in the other chamber, although a separate compensation bill has been filed with a much higher price tag.

The House compensation bill with 31 cosponsors would set aside $18.6 million for victims, while a Senate bill with only one sponsor would set aside $173 million. Of the other popular House bills, Kids Voting would get $300,000, and sterilization education programs would get $36,648.

Another 10 spending bills have more than 20 cosponsors, or more than one-sixth of the House. The median House spending bill has 14 cosponsors, or about one-ninth.

In all, state representatives have filed 42 spending bills so far worth a total of $248.3 million.

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.

A few of the more interesting Senate bills:

S.B. 172: Allow Charter Schools in 100 Counties, Sen. Eddie Goodall

S.B. 178: Repeal Ban G.S. 95-98, Sen. Larry Shaw

S.B. 179: Sterilization Compensation, Sen. Shaw

S.B. 181: Drivers License Change Expir./8 yrs to 65, Sen. Shaw

S.B. 182: Honor Bob Scott, Sen. Tony Foriest