The 2012 General Assembly short session will convene in just a few days. Are you ready to get engaged? Take a few minutes to read the
May 11 LeagueLINC Bulletin so you can hit the ground running when legislators return to Raleigh May 16.
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Posted on May 11, 2012 by Jennifer Webb
We encourage you to stay tuned in and continue to build your relationships with legislators to support strong municipalities in North Carolina.
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Posted on May 09, 2012 by Jennifer Webb
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Posted on May 07, 2012 by Jennifer Webb
Earlier this week, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation reviewed a proposed transportation budget that includes a cap on the state gas tax. The proposed cap -- 37.5 cents per gallon from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 -- is projected to reduce state transportation revenues by $149.7 million during the 2012-13 fiscal year. To balance the reduction in transportation revenues, the House Committee proposes the following cuts:
- Maintenance and Construction -- $103.8 million
- Public transportation grants -- $8.7 million
- State Aid to Airports -- $3.9 million
- Intrastate Construction -- $6.3 million
- Urban Loops Construction -- $2.5 million
- Powell Bill -- $656,195
- Secondary Roads Construction -- $656,195
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Posted on May 04, 2012 by Paul Meyer
The proposed legislation legalizes hydraulic fracturing, but imposes a moratorium through July 1, 2014, in order to establish a regulatory framework, and governance body ("Oil and Gas Board"). Local government authority to impose ordinances which prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting oil and gas exploration and development activities is preempted. Local zoning controls are presumed to be valid, unless they "prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting" fracking. Local governments are authorized to impose one-time impact fees of up to $30,000 per wellhead.
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Posted on April 19, 2012 by Paul Meyer
Wednesday, the House adopted a 90-day extension, on a vote of 292-127 that would extend the current program through the end of the fiscal year, September 30th. Transportation leaders suggested that passage of the extension would allow for a conference with the Senate on their two year bill, passed in March. The bill adopted by the House was billed as a "clean" extension, although it includes three provisions that will make for a contentious conference with the Senate: approval of the Keystone pipeline, regulatory streamlining provisions contained in the original House bill, HR 7 and a provision that would ease Environmental Protection Agency regulations on coal-fired power plants.
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Posted on April 19, 2012 by Kelli Kukura
A draft report of the
Legislative Research Commission's Metropolitan Sewerage/Water System Committee recommends that the City of Asheville's water system be merged with the Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County. The report, which is likely to be voted on at the committee's Thursday meeting, recommends that legislation mandating the transfer be taken up during the General Assembly's 2013 session, but notes that "Should the interested governments craft their own solution for consolidation, ... before the 2013 North Carolina General Assembly convenes, due consideration would be given to the local plan. Action will not be taken if the parties are engaged in good-faith negotiations on this matter."
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Posted on April 16, 2012 by Kelli Kukura
The schedule for Regional Legislative Updates is now available and registration is open. The online registration deadline has passed for the April 10-11 updates, but you can register on-site or email
CCorreia@NCLM.org for more information. Registration is still open for all other Regional Legislative Updates, so register today!
In addition to the traditional legislative update, we will also have a "Cities and Towns Matter" networking session. Attendees will be divided into smaller groups and given current legislative issues to discuss, plan and share best practices in local and state advocacy. Look below for the link to registration.
Come on and LINC in ... Together We Lead!
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Posted on April 02, 2012 by Jennifer Webb
The results of this year's North Carolina Water and Wastewater Rates Survey, conducted annually by the N.C. League of Municipalities and the Environmental Finance Center at the School of Government,
are now available. This year 494 utilities participated in the survey, representing more than 92 percent of centralized systems in the state that charge retail rates. Follow the link above for the survey results, including a summary report, rate tables, and the N.C. Water and Wastewater Rates Dashboard.
The League thanks all of those utilities that participated in this year's survey, and the Environmental Finance Center for their partnership in the survey's completion. Any questions regarding the survey may be directed to
League Research Analyst Chris Nida.
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Posted on April 02, 2012 by Chris Nida
To avoid the expiration of the federal gas tax ($110 million per day), the halting of transportation projects nationwide, and facing a March 31, 2012 deadline, the U.S. Congress passed its 9th straight extension of the federal gas tax late last week, which was signed into law by President Obama. Both the House of Representatives and Senate have passed their own reauthorization bills, but have not managed to form any consensus around these issues thus far. The extension buys Congress an additional 90 days to work out a plan. The bill originally expired in 2009.
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Posted on April 02, 2012 by Paul Meyer
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