Newspapers / The Chowan Herald (Edenton, … / Feb. 3, 1983, edition 1 / Page 15
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Thursday. February 3, 1963 The Carolina Review: Tax Bill MORE TAX, NO TAX...“If you’re writing a column about the legislature, you’d better get over here. Ken’s dropped a bombshell,” chided one senator. Indeed. Senate stalwart Kenneth Royal, D-Durham, had introduced, without war ning, a bill “to be entitled ‘An Act to Enact the North Carolina Anti-Recession Public Works and Tax Equi ty Act of 1983.” Translated, “Four per cent sales tax-no tax on food.” Until last Friday, drunk drivers and a big tax on their alcoholic drink seemed to be the only talk in Raleigh. Behind the scenes though, lawmakers were grappling with a growing list of state needs, real or imagined. In the various appropriations subcommittees, legislators were hearing from everywhere that more money was needed for everything. The Departments of Com merce, Natural Resources and Community Develop ment, and Human Resources, all have been calling for capital monies to build, rebuild, and repair deteriorating water and sewer systems across the state. Transportation officials have for months been discuss ing an almost certain loss of federal matching funds if more roads money isn’t found. In education, leaders from every segment have been wringing their hands. Most lawmakers were just shaking their heads “no.” “To be truthful, I don’t know how we’re going to find the SIOO million just to lift the salary freeze,” complained one senator last week. Rep. Jay Huskins, D- Iredell, found a way-a one per cent increase in the state sales tax, forty per cent of which would go to the general fund. At least SIOO million of that added revenue,-’and pro bably more, could be used for state employee raises. Not surprisingly, Huskins’ bill has not snowballed. Although anythin is possible when lobbying for money, few legislators West W. By rum Agency, Ine. The Independent Agency That Cares. See Us For All Your INSURANCE NEEDS. You’ll Be Glad You Did. Edenton, N.C. >lB3 >l*l3B about the various interest rates we pay in our Association. Stop in when it’s convenient and let us show you how your money can earn some of the highest rates ever paid in the history of our institution. rape EDENTON SAVINGS & LOAN 1 South Brawl Street Edenton, N.C. have really warmed up to in creasing sales taxes for a pay raise (spending that would continue year after year). Ken Royal’s trill is different. It takes away, but it gives back. Royal would add another one per cent on the state sales tax (3% to 4%), but eventually? he wouldn’t tax food at all. The bill also in creases the motor vehicle sales tax by one per cent (2% to 3%) and increases the vehi cle sales tax limit from $120.00 to $300.00. The senator’s secret is to add the extra one per cent right away, then remove the food tax gradually, over several years. The formula makes for big money now-$230 million this upcom ing fiscal year and S2OO million the next. Later, as the food tax totally expires (1986-87), the new revenues would fall to a still respec table $135 million. Royal’s new money could be used immediately in non recurring (one-time cost) ex penses like water and sewer treatment plants, new schools, highways and bridges, and overdue building repairs. Friday, senators were talk ing about Royal’s bill. “It’s good because it ad dresses a problem we haven’t even been able to look at seriously with the money situation, local capital needs in the schools and water treat ment. I like it.” “His idea has a lot of merit. If it didn’t have a lot of merit, Ken royal wouldn’t have of fered it.” “It’s going to get a lot of support because it’s doing away with the food tax.” “A lot of people have said we need some money to ad dress these needs, but he’s the only one to offer something.” “It’s a good idea, no matter who offered it, but the fact that Royal did...well, that sure won’t hurt it.” Interestingly, Ken Royal kept this bill to himself running it by a few close associates and working close ly with a couple of finance people in the legislative fiscal research office. Appareigly' not even the governor or lieutenant governor were apt ly forewarned. The lawmakers just found it on their desks Friday morning. “This is the kind of stuff a governor’s race is made of,” someone said. “No,” Royal laughed, “this is a no-run-again deal.” Vernon James Is Recognized On Friday, January 21, 1983, Representative Vernon James was presented a pla que for outstanding contribu tion by the N.C. Soybean Pro ducers Association and the N.C. Soybean Industry. This award was presented at the annual meeting of the N.C. Soybean Association. In addition to being ap pointed chairman of the Agriculture Committee, Rep. James has been appointed vice chairman of the Constitu tional Amendments and Water & Air Resources Com mittees ; and a member of the Commercial Fishing, Public Utilities, Rules and Transpor tation Committees; also the Appropriations Base Budget and Appropriations Expan sion Budget dealing with Natural and Economic Resources. The 29-member House Agriculture Committee held it’s first meeting on Tuesday, January 25, 1983 with Chair man Vernon James, presiding. This meeting was to acquaint the new commit tee with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. Members of the Department of Agriculture were present and Commissioner Jim Graham spoke briefly. There was a slide presentation on Developing New Domestic and Overseas Markets for North Carolina Farm Products. On February 1, 1983 the House Agriculture Committee will have NCSU Chancellor Poulton, Dean Legates and Dean Curtin as their guests. They will inform the Commit tee of some of the pressing needs facing the University. There issues sac-, ing this General;»Assembiy.’ The most complex issue is trying to find the funds to sup port the budget items. There are long meetings of the Ap propriations Committee each morning and afternoon. It seems a certainty that the Safe Roads Act will pass as this is much needed legislation. Pregnancy Counseling GREENSBORO—Persons facing the problems of an unplanned pregnancy can receive free counceling ser vices from The Children’s Home Society on a new toll free number at 1-800-632-1400. The toll free line was added to make the services of The Children’s Home Society more available to all in dividuals who may need them. “By having a toll free number, it saves the young person the cost of a phone call and doesn’t leave a record on their phone bill,” said Betty Gibson, assistant executive director of the agency. “It’s a question of confidentiality and makes the already available services more accessible.” Although young women will be the primary users of the new number, there are many young men who may want to talk to someone to find out what their options and respon sibilities are. Many times, a young woman may think she is preg nant and just need someone to help her sort out her alter natives. Last year, The Children’s Home Society was contacted by 409 persons seeking counceling about a problem pregnancy. Caseworkers do not at tempt to make decisions for young women, but inform them of all their choices and help them feel comfortable about the alternative they choose. Persons calling the toll free number will reach a caseworker in Greensboro who will talk to the young per son and make a referal to the nearest area office of The Children’s Home Sbciety. A staff member in that arr' will Continued On Page 8-B THE CHOWAN HERALD Lifesaver Says Student Safety Is A Top Priority RALEIGH—CoI. Charles A. Speed, executive director of N.C. Operation Lifesaver, has long said that the grade cross ing safety program’s top priority is protecting the hun dreds of thousands of Tar Heel pupils who ride school buses. His view was reinforced earlier in the school year when trains narrowly missed hitting buses at Apex and Pelham and on Jan. 14 when 32 students were injured in a bus-train collision near Jacksonville. “School buses in North Carolina cross railroad tracks more than 20,000 times a day,” Speed said, “and the potential of many multiple fatality collisions occurring is frightening. “A simple, but very valuable, lesson can be learn ed from the near misses in Wake and Caswell counties and the tragic accident in Onslow,” he continued. “That lesson is that the grade cross ing is the most dangerous place on the highway, where trains cannot stop in time, but busses and other vehicles can. Tufer BIG SALE downtown I I J , •. | t'jr “It is incumbent on all of us -educators, parentsfsfußents and public officials-to make sure every school bus driver in North Carolina comes to a full stop, looks both ways, and listens before driving across the tracks,” Speed said. The former commander of the N.C. Highway Patrol urges officials in all 143 school districts to permit “We STOP At RR Crossings” bumper stickers and “STOP At All Railroad Crossing:*; dashboard labels to be placed on their buses. “These devices are free and are constant reminders to bus drivers and the motoring public that state law requires school buses to stop at grade crossings,” Speed said. They are available from him at: Box D-25801, Raleigh, NC 27611-5801; telephone 919/787-5739. Speed recommends other specific measures to strengthen school bus safety at grade crossings. “One is to make sure that every bus driver views the ex cellent slide presentation, ‘Precious Cargo,’ at least fee a year. It is available >m traffic safety eduators in the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles,” he said. “A second measure is to conduct programs on grade crossing safety in the schools,” Speed said. “Every year, shortly before school starts, I send letters to all superintendents advising that New IRS Service For State Taxpayers GREENSBORO-North Carolina taxpayers who need answers to their tax questions at any hour of the day may use the new Internal Revenue assistance program, called “Tele-Tax.” The recorded information service is available to tax payers with pushbutton telephones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year long, the IRS said. To use any of the 141 tapes, the taxpayer calls one of these four numbers: .Charlotte - (704 ) 371-6352, Greensboro - (919) 378-5172, Raleigh - (919) 755-1498, and Winston-Salem - (919) 761-3136. Recorded in structions will be given as our Operation Lifesaver films and speakers are available without charge. Some take me up on this, but many do not. The offer is always open.” In the meantime, bus drivers, parents, teachers and others should tune in to the state’s eduational network on Jan. 27 and Feb. 3 at 8:35 A.M. how to punch in the tape number desired. Access telephone numbers, tape numbers and topics are listed in Publication 910, “Tax payer’s Guide to IRS Infor mation and Assistance,” or ! Heating LNo. 9953 Refrig. LNo. 2^52 DELANEY JETHRO i. Service For All Types Os Heating Systems Commerical Refrigeration, Appliance Service Rt. 1 Box 179 K Phone: 221-8730 Edenton, N.C. 27932 24 Hr. Service Page 7-B and on Feb. 24 at 1:45 P.M., he said. “Three of the best films we use in Operation Lifesaver will be shown on those dates.” Finally, Speed said tljat of ficials in the Charlotte- Mecklenburg schools shave had an extensive bus |safety program under way since last summer. “What they: have done should be |done everywhere,” he said.i Publication 1163, Telelj’ax,” both free from IRS ahd at many banks and libraries. Topics covered in the tape series include filing re quirements, itemized deduc tions, tax credits.
The Chowan Herald (Edenton, N.C.)
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Feb. 3, 1983, edition 1
15
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