As the legislature has worked over Gov. Pat McCrory’s proposed $2.85 billion Connect NC transportation and infrastructure bond in the past months, the proposal has shed considerable weight in terms of cost and the number of projects it would support. Community colleges would share $350 million, down from $400 million. The changes also address House priorities, restoring several projects that chamber had included in its bond.
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But Sen. Bob Rucho, R-Mecklenburg, the finance committee co-chairman, said waiting more than a year before the referendum will give bond boosters more time to persuade a majority of voters to approve the bonds. The first is a $2 billion bond referendum, the largest issuance of state debt in more than a decade.
– $25 million for the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, compared to $45 million in the previous Senate bill. There would be $115 million for a nursing school building at UNC-Greensboro and $102.9 million for a science, technology and math building at Western Carolina University. Which is why budget negotiators took a carrot and stick approach. The panel isn’t expected to vote on the package until Tuesday.
“The Senate has its version of the bill, and the House has its version”, said department spokeswoman Cary Cox.
Sen. Dan Blue, D-Wake, urged GOP colleagues to consider locating proceeds to additional historically black colleges in the UNC system. The Senate plan also excludes $13.1 million at four state parks and a natural area in the region and $1.6 million for the armory in Macon County, all expenditures that the House had approved. The money would help fund road, bridge and other infrastructure programs throughout the state.
A Senate committee on Monday changed a House bill about playgrounds into a bill relating to charter school funding. This measure sets up a $20 million per year pool of money for that effort, any unspent money remains in that pool.
Supporters of incentives say they’re needed to compete with other states that offer them to companies.
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– $70 million for National Guard construction, compared to $82.7 million.
