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.

State legislators have now asked for $923.9 million so far.

A total of 187 bills filed since the start of the session have requested special appropriations for various state programs and causes.

That's about 30 percent of the likely $3 billion shortfall.

Fifty-five of the bills are companions to bills filed in the other chamber. Another six are similar to other bills but not exactly the same.

The largest new request is two bills for $65.4 million for various mental health programs suggested by a legislative oversight committee.

The 103 House bills total $682.9 million in requests; the 84 Senate bills total $736.2 million.

The bills also request $496.2 million in the 2010-'11 budget.

Legislators are filing spending bills that won't be funded.

Since the start of the 2009 session, state lawmakers have filed 137 bills requesting $785.6 million in special appropriations — more than 25 percent of the $3 billion shortfall.

Some of the bills are narrowly targeted at a project within the legislator's district. Legislators say they are filing them as a way to let constituents know that they care about their needs.

Sen. Ed Jones, a Halifax County Democrat who filed 10 local spending bills, likened it to buying a lottery ticket.

"You can't win if you don't play," he said. 

But other legislators said they are inappropriate in a year when the state is already considering serious cuts to education and health programs. (N&O)

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.

Senate leader Marc Basnight said there's too many spending bills.

The Manteo Democrat said state legislators have been filing special appropriations requests "like a bunch of drunken sailors on Main Street in Norfolk celebrating victory."

He said that legislators know most of the bills won't go anywhere, but local officials do not understand the depths of the state's crisis.

"Local government officials will put out the tin cup and hope that someone drops in a coin or two," he said.

Basnight said the vast majority of spending bills have come from Democrats because they are in the majority in both chambers. If Republicans were in charge, he said they would propose many more of their own.

"Their priorities will be different, but they still spend money," he said.  

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.

Sen. Ed Jones says filing a spending bill is like buying insurance.

The Halifax County Democrat has filed 10 bills seeking a total of $17.2 million in special appropriations.

He said that he knows with the state facing at least a $2 billion shortfall that chances are slim any of his projects will get funding.

But he said that he wants to make sure he's in line in case some extra money is found.

"I want my insurance policy out there just in case something does happen," he said. "People sent me up here to look after their best interest, and this is in their best interest."

All of Jones' proposals are for spending in the seven counties he represents: Repairing the historic Hope Plantation in Windsor, the Newbold-White House in Hertford, and the Barker House in Edenton; building a public library and a Boys and Girls Club in Ahoskie; replacing a high school roof and building a senior center in Gates County; and upgrading a child care facility.

The largest bill is for $11.8 million to expand and run the N.C. Center for Automotive Research in Jackson.

Jones said the spending is especially needed in the poorer northeastern counties he represents, saying it's comparable to a lottery ticket.

"You can't win if you don't play," he said.

The House asks for spending bills.

Two years ago, Speaker Joe Hackney began requesting any spending added to the House budget to be also filed in a separate bill.

The goal was to make the budget process more transparent by making legislators put their names behind any special appropriations requests.

Hackney's spokesman, Bill Holmes, said that all of the spending bills are sent to the House Appropriations Committee, which makes the final decision on whether to include the spending.

He said it is helpful for committee members to see who suggested the spending and how many cosponsors it has. Though the rule may lead to more bills being filed, Holmes said legislators understand that their bills may not make it.

Despite the $2 billion budget hole, state legislators have filed 109 bills with requests worth more than $591.6 million in spending — nearly 30 percent of the shortfall.

Still, Holmes said Hackney was not troubled by the requests.

"I think folks are realistic," he said. "They know that there's a limit on the money that's available, but at the same time they have a duty to represent their folks back home. The financial picture will determine what happens, but nothing happens if you don't ask."

Correction: An earlier version of the post overstated the House practice. It is not a rule.

Sen. Phil Berger thinks spending bills should come with a matching spending cut.

The Senate Republican leader said he does not think it's appropriate for state legislators to submit requests for special appropriations in a year when the state is facing a $2 billion shortfall.

"If you're going to propose spending $1 million in one place, you should propose cutting $1 million somewhere else," he said.

Berger said he doesn't think the legislature should make that a rule, however, saying that he thinks it's up to the discretion of the individual legislator. He did note that the vast majority of spending bills have been filed by Democrats.

He didn't buy the excuse of some legislators that they don't expect their bills to get funded.

"Why are they introducing it if they don't want it to pass?" he said. "Folks ought to be troubled by a legislator who is talking about fiscal responsibility on the one hand and introducing a bill to spend more money at the same time."

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated Berger's position. 

Rep. Melanie Wade Goodwin has not filed any spending bills.

The Richmond County Democrat has filed special appropriations bills in the past seeking money in the state budget for projects back home.

But she said there was no point in doing so in a year when the state budget is at least $2 billion short already. 

"Most of the folks who have contacted me say that we would love to have some funding, but we know it's a tough budget year, so we're not going to ask you to spend your time pursuing funds that are not going to be available," she said.

In a better budget year, Goodwin said she might have filed a bill requesting $2 million for a waterline to serve rural residents of Richmond County whose home wells have tested positive for pesticides. 

She said other legislators may be filing bills this year that they know won't pass as a "show of support" for a local project and to keep them in the discussion.