Happy 4th of July!
Wishing you a joyful and safe celebration of this remarkable day in our nation's history
This short session was fraught with the unprecedented challenges of a public health crisis, an economic collapse, social unrest, NCDOT mismanagement, and an uncomprehendingly slow-to-respond unemployment claims office. Under these circumstances, controversy was inevitable.
Despite these difficulties, the North Carolina General Assembly adjourned an eight-week session with a balanced budget that addressed the most pressing needs of our state government. We plan to reconvene the week of July 7th to discuss any potential vetoes by the Governor. We'll also tackle a few other time-sensitive issues, such as the legalization of masks in public scheduled to sunset after August 1st.
Over the next few weeks, I will be sending you more explanation about some of the actions we took over the past eight weeks. Here are some I have selected for you
Wishing for your health and safety,
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Chuck Edwards, Senator
NC District 48
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Your State Budget
Historically North Carolina has operated with a fully adopted two-year budget. Because of Governor Cooper's
veto
last year and the unwillingness of Senate Democrats that initially supported that budget to override the veto, North Carolina has been operating under a continuing resolution. We also passed several provisions that I will refer to as 'mini-budgets.'
Typically, the short session is the time when adjustments are made to the second-year of the budget reflecting changes in revenue projections or priorities, but this short session went in the direction where the legislature again made attempts via 'mini-budget' bills to pass a one-year budget for FY 2020-21.
If this weren't a difficult enough task, try drafting a statewide budget during a pandemic. COVID-19 has changed tax filing deadlines so that income tax revenues for FY 2019-2020 shifted into FY 2020-21. The epidemic has shut down businesses, created a sharp increase in the unemployment rate, and will affect everything from income tax revenues to sales tax revenues to gas tax revenues. The bottom line is we're in uncharted territory.
As recently as three months ago, we expected a budget surplus of nearly $1 billion. Now, after the shutdown of our State's economy, we are expecting a revenue shortfall of at least $5 billion. One unknown still is whether or not Congress will allow states to use any of the distributions from the CARES Act to backfill revenue losses. If they do, those monies will make it easier to balance the budget while funding the programs and projects that were expecting to receive funding. If they can't, then tough decisions will need to be made.
I am happy to report that for the upcoming fiscal year, we have delivered you a budget that is balanced by utilizing numerous funds that had unspent balances.
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HB1154
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Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority
is a local bill that simply spaces out the terms served by airport board members appointed by Asheville, Buncombe County, and Henderson County. All of the local legislators from the two counties and city supported the bill — senators and representatives; Democrats and Republicans — but the problem with a bill like this is just getting it moved when much weightier subjects are being considered. I felt good about getting it passed in the House before most local legislation had begun to move.
SB818
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Compensation of Certain School Employees
I supported SB818 that provides $350 bonuses for teachers and instructional support personnel. It also encourages the Governor to give a $600 bonus to teachers, instructional support personnel, and noncertified personnel from the $94 million federal Emergency Education Relief Fund, for a total bonus of $950. This bill also provides teachers, instructional support personnel, and assistant principals with salary step increases based on years of experience. The bill currently awaits Gov. Cooper's signature.
HB511
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North Carolina First Step Act
I supported HB511; This bill provides that nonviolent offenders shouldn't face harsher penalties than violent offenders, and that rehabilitation – especially for drug users – should be the top priority. Judges should have the discretion to decide which consequences are most appropriate for a particular offender, but mandatory minimums tie judges' hands.
SB562
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The Second Chance Act
I supported SB562; This bill provides hope for a better life, which benefits the individual, society, and the economy. Mistakes made as a teenager shouldn't condemn a person to lifelong consequences. The goal of the criminal justice system is rehabilitation, which is nearly impossible if an offender can't get a good job to support a family or qualify for quality housing.
SB808
- Medicaid Funding Act
I supported SB808; This bill was the result of several years effort to increase funding for the State's Medicaid program by $463 million and to extend the Medicaid transformation implementation deadline to no later than July 1st, 2021. Transformation will include a groundbreaking program that will screen patients to determine if they need to be connected to other programs that focus on food security, housing, transportation, employment, and interpersonal safety. Medicaid Transformation is a holistic program to treat not only a person's health, but also other social and environmental factors.
For a comprehensive list of all legislation signed into law this session,
Click Here
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UPDATE:
Buncombe County Jobs Recovery Act
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My job in the Senate is to listen to concerns and ideas of those in my district, then help them develop solutions to solve problems. When I was approached to lead the response in jumpstarting our economy by providing grants to businesses in the tourism industry, I knew I had to act.
When
Senate Bill 704
was signed into law on May 4th, it included my
Buncombe County Jobs Recovery Act
(S705), which established the Buncombe County Tourism Jobs Recovery Fund - a $5 million COVID-19 relief grant program available for local tourism-related small businesses and non-profits that provide a direct visitor experience. I am pleased to report to you the strong impact this emergency fund was able to restart Buncombe County's tourism economy.
So far, from the $5 million grant fund has:
- Funded 394 businesses from a pool of 421 eligible applicants
- Made awards ranging from $2,000 to $50,000 to full grants to businesses with multiple locations in Buncombe County
- Retained, recovered, or created 4,787 jobs
- Taken only 7 weeks from fund signed into law until initial disbursements
- Made 63 grants to Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs)
- Made 232 grants to Women Business Enterprises (WBEs)
- Made 59 grants to businesses outside Asheville city limits
Breakdown of Sectors Funded:
- 124: Restaurants & bars
- 102: Tours, attractions, outdoor recreation, agri-tourism, arts, and entertainment
- 84: Retail operations
- 24: Bakeries, cafes, and dessert-makers
- 24: Wedding and event businesses
- 22: Breweries, cideries, wineries and distilleries
- 14: Spas and wellness businesses
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Julie Hart Appointed to NCCAT
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I am pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Julie L. Hart, a Hendersonville native, to the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching Board (NCCAT). Julie will serve as a member of the Board of Trustees who make recommendations to aid in increasing teacher effectiveness around the state. NCCAT provides teachers with new knowledge, skills, teaching methods, best practices, and information to take back to their classrooms.
Julie teaches English and American History at North Henderson High School in Hendersonville, NC. She just completed her first year as a teacher. Julie graduated from the University of North Carolina at Asheville with a Bachelor of Arts in Literature with a Teacher Licensure. While at UNC Asheville, she served as a Teacher Ambassador, educating high school students about college, specifically, about the Education Department. In April of 2019, Julie received the Jeff Rackham Award for being the strongest graduating literature-teacher licensure student. In the same month, she was one of the nominees to be UNCA’s Student Teacher of the Year. Furthermore, she has served in various volunteer positions working for numerous political campaigns and other organizations in the community.
Julie’s passion for teaching and aspiration to help young teachers will prove invaluable to prepare new teachers entering the profession. Not only is she actively involved in the community, but as a teacher, she is well versed in the daily life of being in school and the teaching of North Carolina students. As a new teacher just out of college, her understanding of changes that need to be made will undoubtedly lead to new and better ideas. Our district must be represented on state boards and commissions. I know Julie will work hard for our students and represent District 48 well.
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website
for the most current legislative updates
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