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6 THURSDAY. MAY 29. 2008 N.C. House on pace with budget Hopes to make proposal on June 2 BY DEVIN ROONEY STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR The leaders in the N.C. House of Representatives say they art* on schedule to make a budget pro posal by their self-imposed June 2 deadline. Bill Holmes, spokesman for N.C. Rep. Joe Hackney, D-Orange, the N.C. House majority leader, said that at this point, much of the work is being done in appropriation sub committees. "The hope right now is to have something done early next week." Holmes said. One major possible change to Easley’s budget proposal is more funding for dropout prevention. Holmes also said the N.C. House likely will increase the pay raises for state employees higher than Easley's proposed 1.5 percent and add a one-time cash bonus, push ing them closer to the average 7 (x*rcent teacher pay raises. And most significant of all, "there's no expectation of increas ing taxes this time around." Holmes 'aid. “Whatever increased spending Lottery employees get controversial raise Pay levels on par with other states BY DEVIN ROONEY STATE & NATIONAL EDITOR The N.C. Education Lottery Commission's vote to increase the organization's employee salaries by an average of 5 percent has raised some eyebrows in state govern ment. The nine-member commission met to vote on the raise May 21. Alice Garland, spokeswoman for the N.C. lottery, said this isn't a change from past years. The lottery commission pro vided for an average increase of 5 percent to salaries for the years 2007.2008 and 2009. She added that there has never been a negative reaction to the raises in the past. N.C. Sen. Phil Berger, R- Rockingham. the N.C. Senate minor ity leader, could not be reached by Tuesday night, but he told The (Raleigh) News & Observer on Friday that he questioned whether the commission should redirect the funds going to raises and give more money to the schools. 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Call us soon to get a V R J chance at yours. there is will not come from higher taxes." But Holmes was careful not to be too confident with his predic tions, disclaiming his ideas if they seemed overly forward-looking statements. “Obviously, things could always change, but that’s not in their plan right now.* N.C. Rep. Lucy Allen. D- Franklin, who is a member of the N.C. House appropriations com mittee, said she opposed the sin tax increases in Easley's budget because she thinks they are unfair. “Even though we might want to discourage both of those habits (drinking and smoking), there's still a view that it would be seen as taxing the poorest segment of the population," Allen said. “It’ll be regressive." she said. N.C. Rep. Paul Stam. R-Wake. the N.C. House minority leader, said that in his view, taxes are too high, even without the tax increas es. “We already take more than we need out of the tax payers' hide," he ten programs for at-risk youth, class siz.e reduction in early grades, school construction and college scholarships. Garland said the implication that the N.C. lottery is wasting money isn't accurate. “To be perfectly honest, that’s an uneducated response." she said. She added that the lottery man agement uses barely more than half of its permitted expenditures. “We re allowed 8 percent for administration. We spend about 4.6 percent," she said. Garland also said she doubts that redirecting the money used for the raises would make an impact on the state public schools. “We're a lean organization so the, implication that the changes in our salary would make any difference to education is just an uneducated response." Garland said that the N.C. lot tery doesn't use the wage rate adjustment method that the rest of the state uses. “We have a merit-based system and not an across-the-board auto matic system like the regular state I “There’s no expectation of increasing taxes this time around." BILL HOLMES, SPOKESMAN FOR REP JOE HACKNEY said. Stam added that there have been consistent tax increases throughout the past years. “We’ve had six years in a row of very large tax rate increases at the state level," Stam said. But Allen said the committees are in the process of balancing their funding requests with avail able revenue. “We’re adjusting the budget according to the revenues we’ve received and whether or not they meet, exceed or fall behind our rev enue projections," she said. Allen added that the revenue projections for the state budget tended to be on the small side. “We've been very conservative in revenue projections," she said. Allen said some states, such as Virginia, were too optimistic with their revenue projections and now face the possibility of layoffs. But because state leaders were careful in making revenue projec “Our administrative expenses are among the lowest of any lottery in the country." ALICE GARLAND, N C LOTTERY SPOKESWOMAN government has." she said. Berger told the N&O that he supports merit raises, but he added that it is a had time to give such a high raise to the lottery employ ees. given the lack of money to pay other state employees. Garland added that the 5 |x*reent average raise allows the N.C. lottery enough wiggle room-to reward the employees who are standouts with a noticeably higher raise than other employees. “How do you differentiate between the employees who do really well and the employees who don't?" she said. Garland also refuted that the N.C. lottery is under-performing. “We are 5153 million ahead of sales this same day last year." she said. “So, employees have worked incredibly hard this year, and the lottery commission wanted to have enough money in the salary pool." Garland said that the N.C. lot tery administrative expenses are low. 7C % CAunedc DINNER BUFFET j j *9.35 \ ■ SI.OO OFF with your UNC student ID ! i J 35 Chinese has the best variety of Chinese food around. You can choose from over 50 items on our Super Buffet or order from the extensive menu. Lunch llam-2:3opm Friday/Saturday Dinner 4:3opm-10pm Sunday-Thursday Dinner 4:3opm-9:3opm CLOSED MONDAY ( University Square • 143 W Franklin Street • Chapel Hi* • 919.968.3488 • www.citysearch.com rdu/35 Recycle... for the life of 1 our conimunirx ! *>. Recycle these items at the Curb !*' * 7 and Apartment Complexes: xil Plastic Bottles, Metal Cans, Glass Bottles 1 * Mixed Paper (junk mail, cereal boxes, milk cartons), Magazines, Newspapers & Phonebooks NO plastic bags, please! Recycle Corrugated Cardboard at 24-hour Drop-off Sites and Solid Waste Convenience Centers. Recycle Batteries, Motor Oil, Oil Filters and Antifreeze at Solid Waste Convenience Centers. Bring Paint, Pesticides and other Chemicals to the Household Hazardous Waste Collection -i Mon-Fri 10am-6pm F® jJ Saturda y s 7:30-12 noon r3nl Grange County Landfill fc 4RJO Eubanks Rd. Chapel Hill. Recycle Computers, Televisions and other Electronic Equipment at Solid Waste Convenience Centers FF 1 Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, 7am-7pm W—JJ Saturday 7am-5 Sundays 1-5 LstJ For more information and center locations visit www.co.orange.nc.us/recycling/ Orange County Solid Waste Management 968-2788 a recycling@co.orange.nc.us News tions. Allen said she hopes to use some of the surplus to fund the wage increase for state employees. “I would certainly be hopeful that we can give them a good raise," she said. Passing the state budget is a long process. First, the governor pres ents his recommendations to both N.C. General Assembly appropria tions committees. Then there is a series of presen tations by state departments and the legislative appropriation and finance committees. That leads to final presentations between the N.C. Senate and House of Representatives. Then the governor and the leg islature convene to work out the disparities between the proposals. Leaders in state government don't expect the process to finish for several months. Contact the State f \ational Editor at stntdeskfa unc.edu. “Our administrative expenses are among the lowest of any lottery in the country," she said. However, an audit of the N.C. lottery, released in April and per formed by the State Auditor's Office, said the salary of the N.C. lottery's executive director is com parable to all surrounding states excluding Virginia. Salary comparisons of N.C. lot tery middle and executive manage ment positions show the salaries for both N.C. lottery management groups are in line with most of the surrounding states. The audit also critiques the business tactics used by the \\C. lottery. It was found that managers of the N.C. lottery should spearhead more market research. The report also critiques the efforts to forecast lottery revenue and the organization’s scrutiny of business sponsorships. Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk(a unc.edu. Davis’ death reminds UNC of his giving Library namesake fought for University BY BRIAN AUSTIN UNIVERSITY EDITOR With the passing of Walter Royal Davis last Monday at the age of 88, the University community lost a staunch supporter and benefactor. Davis was known for his gener osity and willingness to extend a hand to those in need, said those who knew him, but he was also very evident in the University’s material successes. Walter R. Davis Library repre sents his successful push to secure 532 million for the University from the state legislature for the sale of its utilities. His reach extended far beyond the library, though. In 1998. he worked to assure the creation of the UNC Health Care System, an immense effort that brought together the UNC hospital with the clinical faculty of the UNC medical school, said Bill Roper, the current dean of the School of Medicine. “What the UNC Health Care System represents is joining togeth er in a single organization the doc tors and the hospital," Roper said. After some of his family mem bers were diagnosed with can cer, Davis again supported UNC Hospitals in 2004, working his influence in the state legislature to appropriate SIBO million for the N.C. Cancer Hospital, a project that is currently nearing completion on UNC-Chapel Hill's campus. “I don't know anybody else w ho could fill the void as efficiently as he did." said Howard Lee, a long time friend of Davis. “He would only use his power and influence to make life better for others." Though his own education was largely neglected he was sent home from school on the first day of class for slugging the principal Davis grew to become a wealthy and successful businessman in the oil industry. He returned to his home state oft North Carolina and served on the UNC Board of TYustees for 16 years, at the same time using his New bus route to link campus and Carrboro Provides express night-time service BY ANIKA ANAND STAFF WRITER With the creation of a C2C bus route, the late nights of students waiting for buses running between Chapel Hill and Carrboro might be coming to an end. Though Carrboro is only about three miles from the heart of cam pus, a growing student contingent traveling to and from UNC late at night has raised safety and conve nience issues. Inspired by a friend in a study session, Student Body President J.J. Raynor proposed the C2C bus route in her election platform. A rapid transit bus, the C2C which is short for Chapel Hill to Carrboro will be modeled after the current Point-C-Point campus shuttle. The transit bus is designed to carry students to and from cam pus late at night so as to avoid biking or walking alone in the dark. “1 think it’s a great initiative on J.J.’s part,” first-year law student Sarah Simon said. *1 would defi nitely use the bus to come back home late at night." Though the J bus serves Carrboro hourly until 1 a.m., Raynor said the additional option is necessary because students complain about waiting for the bus in the evening. Raynor said students living in Carrboro will be able to study or attend later meetings on campus without having to worry about a safe passage home. “Especially if it runs during the week." said senior Parin Desai, who liked the idea. "Because if you stay on campus longer than usual, it is difficult to get back." Desai said that although there is a weekend bus that runs at night, the Safe Ride JV, there is not a weekday night bus. Raynor said that the project is very feasible, and that she already has been analyzing route options with Ray Magyar, Chapel Hill assistant director for planning and transit In Raynor’s platform, she said the route will run from the Varsity ahr flatly oar Hrrl DTH/ADAM GRAETZ About 200 gathered at The Chapel of the Cross church in Chapel Hill on Friday May 23 to remember the life of Walter R. Davis. connections in the state legislature to lobby on behalf of the University, where he gained the reputation of a straight-talking, no-nonsense busi ness man. “I listened to anything he said," said Anne Cates, who served as a trustee with him. “He was a straight shooter and he never asked for any thing for himself." Davis' efforts on behalf of the University resulted in the flex ibility of financial management that UNC now has with the state legislature. “What he did was get the power structure of North Carolina, and especially the elected leaders, to be very supportive of the University ." Roper said. When Davis was not lobbying for UNC, he was often giving away his own fortune. His penchant for giving leaves the possibility of a final gift to be left in his estate, though there is no reading of his will scheduled. “He was very kind and gentle." said his wife. JoAnn. “He was very strong in business, but fair. I le was such a dynamic man. We had 33 wonderful wars.' Contact the University Editor at udesk(a unc.edu. “/ would definitely une the bus to come back • home late at night." SARAH SIMON, law student Theatre on Franklin Street to Weaver Street Market in Carrboro. The stops also could include some of those in the P2P route. Raynor said an express route solely dedicated for the C2C would be the most cost-efficient solution to this problem. Because ridership is low on other Carrboru routes. Raynor advocates decreasing the number of times those buses run their routes, instead expanding the use of the new bits. “What is so great is that we have a great relationship with the town of Chapel Hill and the Department of Public Safety." Raynor said. Raynor also commented on the potential for the C2C to help Carrboro’s economy. More students would be willing to go get dinner in Carrboro. do late-night grocery shopping or go to bars, she said. When junior Stephen Dougherty heard about the C2C route, he immediately thought of the DSI Comedy Theater in Carrboro. “I’ve always wanted to go to a comedy show there, but 1 can’t because I can’t park, and it’s too far to walk," he said. Christian Mibelli, the University Services co-chairman for student government, said the branch will determine in the next month when it will be able to start the route. Ideally, leaders are hoping to have the bus up and running by the start of the 2008-09 school year. “We will be using student fees so we won’t have to depend on the city’s or the University's financial aid." Mibelli said. After a trial year, UNC and Chapel Hill Transit will determine whether or not the bus route will be perma nently written into UNC s contract Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.
Daily Tar Heel (Chapel Hill, N.C.)
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May 29, 2008, edition 1
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