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Wake County Loses Thousands of Acres of Tree Canopy in 10 years.
A new assessment of Wake County trees values the tree canopy at more than $3.2 billion.
The study showed that each year, Wake County trees are providing free eco-services, absorbing more than 414,000 tons of carbon dioxide. That's in addition to removing over 11,000 tons of pollutants from the air and intercepting billions of gallons of stormwater.
But the trees’ benefits go far beyond that, said Timothy Maloney, Wake County's planning, development and inspections director.
However, in the last decade, Wake County lost 11,122 acres of tree canopy, which is more than double the size of Umstead State Park. Maloney said this loss is likely due to the region's rapid development. The county said its population grew to over a million people between 2010-2020, making its growth rate nearly 3.5 times the national rate.
Some of the biggest things to come from this study, though, are planting opportunities, Maloney said. The study identified over 80,000 acres of land on public and private property available for planting projects, making sure to exclude areas like recreational fields and agriculture sites.
Of those available sites, a press release listed over 10,000 acres as being “very high planting priority.” According to Maloney, many of these are areas where planting trees would improve social equity. Underserved communities are particularly vulnerable to problems associated with fewer trees, like increased flooding and heat.
The county recently launched a new interactive tool for the general public to explore the tree canopy coverage in their area.
Wake County already has a planting project in the works. County officials plan to plant more than 3,000 seedling trees at an interchange on Highway 54 by January.
Budget Vote Expected This Week at General Assembly
Months behind schedhule, the North Carolina state budget is finally going to be voted on in the General Assembly next week. The Budget delay has not been over issues between Republicans and Democrats as it was in the years past. Republicans have total control of the General Assembly with enough power to override Cooper's vetoes. Instead, budget disagreements have been between the House and the Senate. One point of contention has been the legalization of Casinos, as it has been difficult to arrive on consensus on this issue.
The delay could scuttle efforts by Gov. Roy Cooper's administration for Medicaid expansion to begin in early fall.
House and Senate Republicans are whittling down dozens of outstanding spending and policy issues within a two-year spending plan that was supposed to take effect July 1.
The top leader in the North Carolina House warns that a final state budget won't be enacted until September
House and Senate Republicans are whittling down dozens of outstanding spending and policy issues within a spending plan that was supposed to take effect July 1
GOP legislators are still aiming for a budget agreement in August, but House Speaker Tim Moore said Monday that the actual passage won't happen until September given the outstanding issues and legislators' schedules
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper could veto the budget bill, leading to override votes
The delays could scuttle efforts by Cooper's administration to begin Medicaid expansion Oct. 1
While some big-ticket items like tax cuts and worker raises have been settled, other details remain unresolved. Add travel and other activities by rank-and-file lawmakers and the narrow GOP veto-proof majorities in the General Assembly, and House Speaker Tim Moore said the periods during which formal business can be conducted in Raleigh are limited.
Sen. Ralph Hise, a Mitchell County Republican and one of the chief budget negotiators, told reporters that votes on a budget agreement could happen in two weeks if differences can be worked out in a reasonable time. Any final budget could be vetoed by the Democratic governor, with override votes to follow.
When asked later Monday to describe the chances that a final budget could be carried out by the end of August, Moore replied: “Zero.”
“Just with some absences I know that the Senate has on their side, and with just some of the logistics that have been talked about at this point ... you’re talking about a September date for actual passage — signing (the bill) into law and all that,” Moore said.
A separate law that Cooper signed in March would expand Medicaid to potentially 600,000 low-income adults, but it can't happen until a state budget law is enacted.
Cooper health Secretary Kody Kinsley unveiled a plan last month by which the expanded coverage would begin Oct. 1 as long as his agency received a formal go-ahead by legislators to accept expansion by Sept. 1. Otherwise, Kinsley said, implementation would be delayed until at least Dec. 1.
Legislative leaders have refused to permit the implementation of expansion without the budget's passage, as Cooper has sought. His administration has said the state misses out on more than $500 million in federal funding for each month that expansion isn’t implemented.
Read More at https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article278981194.html
NC State Board of Education Superintendent asks for NC Parental Bill of Rights to be delayed
The North Carolina Superintendent of Schools is asking lawmakers to delay implementing the Parents’ Bill of Rights, claiming districts have too many questions about the law.
Catherine Truitt told the state board of education, districts have too many questions about the law
The law affects some of what children are taught, and when parents should be notified in certain circumstances.Lawmakers passed the much-stricter version of the Parents’ Bill of Rights back on Aug. 16. Under it, schools are not allowed to teach anything about sexual orientation or gender identity to students in grades K-4.
The law also required schools to notify parents if a child asks to be called by a different name or pronoun.
Parents will now have the right to inspect and review all materials, from library books to textbooks, and there are restrictions on health-related surveys.
Last month, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools’ Board of Education approved the new policies, but is the exception. Most districts are waiting on guidance from the North Carolina School Boards Association.
State Superintendent Catherine Truitt is asking lawmakers to delay implementing the new rules until Jan. 1, 2024.
Read More at: https://www.wbtv.com/2023/09/08/nc-superintendent-requests-lawmakers-delay-implementation-parents-bill-rights/
Wake County Schools Consider Cash Incentives for Bus Shortages
The Wake County School Board hopes more money up front will help bring in new bus drivers. Board members are discussing incentives to try to ease the bus driver shortage that’s affecting thousands of students.
New drivers would be looking at the same amount of money, but this would change when it would be paid.
A shortage of bus drivers means some children get to school well after the bell rings. Others don’t leave school until an hour and a half after classes end. School district leaders hope a change to the incentive program for new bus drivers and a new incentive for returning drivers will help them hire and keep more drivers.
Currently, there’s a $1,200 new driver incentive but drivers have to wait for it, receiving $400 after the first three months and another $800 after the first year of work. The new proposal would give out the entire $1,200 on the first available payroll when someone is employed as a permanent driver.
It would also offer a $1,000 incentive to returning drivers, paid in mid-September.
Christina Spears, President of Wake NCAE, says getting money up front is something many drivers have asked for, but she says increasing the hourly wage may be even more important.
“The thing I’ve heard from bus drivers, even more, is increasing the hourly wage, of course, to be competitive with drivers from private companies and GoRaleigh and things like that,” she said.
Some board members noted that the hourly wage is dependent on the state budget, which hasn’t been passed yet.
School board members seemed supportive of the driver incentive proposal during Tuesday’s work session. There will be a final vote on Sept. 5.
NC Speaker says House Budget will be delayed
A final North Carolina state budget won't be enacted until September, the House's top leader said Monday. That could scuttle efforts by Gov. Roy Cooper's administration for Medicaid expansion to begin in early fall.
House and Senate Republicans are whittling down dozens of outstanding spending and policy issues within a two-year spending plan that was supposed to take effect July 1.
The top leader in the North Carolina House warns that a final state budget won't be enacted until September
House and Senate Republicans are whittling down dozens of outstanding spending and policy issues within a spending plan that was supposed to take effect July 1
GOP legislators are still aiming for a budget agreement in August, but House Speaker Tim Moore said Monday that the actual passage won't happen until September given the outstanding issues and legislators' schedules
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper could veto the budget bill, leading to override votes
The delays could scuttle efforts by Cooper's administration to begin Medicaid expansion Oct. 1
While some big-ticket items like tax cuts and worker raises have been settled, other details remain unresolved. Add travel and other activities by rank-and-file lawmakers and the narrow GOP veto-proof majorities in the General Assembly, and House Speaker Tim Moore said the periods during which formal business can be conducted in Raleigh are limited.
Sen. Ralph Hise, a Mitchell County Republican and one of the chief budget negotiators, told reporters that votes on a budget agreement could happen in two weeks if differences can be worked out in a reasonable time. Any final budget could be vetoed by the Democratic governor, with override votes to follow.
When asked later Monday to describe the chances that a final budget could be carried out by the end of August, Moore replied: “Zero.”
“Just with some absences I know that the Senate has on their side, and with just some of the logistics that have been talked about at this point ... you’re talking about a September date for actual passage — signing (the bill) into law and all that,” Moore said.
A separate law that Cooper signed in March would expand Medicaid to potentially 600,000 low-income adults, but it can't happen until a state budget law is enacted.
Cooper health Secretary Kody Kinsley unveiled a plan last month by which the expanded coverage would begin Oct. 1 as long as his agency received a formal go-ahead by legislators to accept expansion by Sept. 1. Otherwise, Kinsley said, implementation would be delayed until at least Dec. 1.
Legislative leaders have refused to permit the implementation of expansion without the budget's passage, as Cooper has sought. His administration has said the state misses out on more than $500 million in federal funding for each month that expansion isn’t implemented.
Read More at https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2023/08/08/north-carolina-state-budget-won-t-become-law-until-september--house-leader-says
The Fight Begins to Replace Tim Moore as Speaker
North Carolina's embattled House Speaker Tim Moore, the longest-serving speaker in state history, has made it clear that this term will be his last as head of the Republican-led chamber.
Moore's exit from the position has long been anticipated by political observers, igniting a race to replace him that has been playing out behind the scenes for months.
Why it matters: North Carolina's House speaker, though not elected by the general public, is one of the most powerful politicians in the state.
The speaker has the authority to determine what bills ultimately become laws, what state agencies and programs are funded — and given the ability to carry out their mission — and who is granted power over the influential state boards and commissions, like the UNC System Board of Governors and the state's utilities commission.
Details: On the shortlist to replace Moore are two of the most powerful people in the chamber:
House Majority Leader John Bell, who has served in the legislature for six terms and is the longest-serving House majority leader in state history.
House Rules Committee Chair Destin Hall, a 30-something who quickly ascended to become a Republican leader and Moore's right-hand man when he was appointed to the position nearly three years ago.
Though Bell has already made clear his plans to run for speaker, Hall confirmed for the first time to Axios Friday that he also plans to campaign for the position.
Read More at https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/07/21/nc-state-house-race-house-speaker-power-tim-moore-destin-hall-john-bell
Concerns mount about Overreaching of Legislature
Senate Bill 512 takes appointments held now by Gov. Roy Cooper and shifts them to the General Assembly. Nine boards would be affected, and the governor would still have at least some appointments to each board.
Here are the nine boards in the bill and a brief description of what would change:
N.C. Utilities Commission: Add two members for a total of nine, with four appointed by the General Assembly, four by the governor and one by the state treasurer. The governor currently appoints this full board, which regulates Duke Energy and other public utilities.
Economic Investment Committee: Add two members for a total of seven, with three members of the executive branch serving with two General Assembly appointees and two legislators. This committee decides economic incentive grants.
Environmental Management Commission: Currently the governor appoints nine members and the General Assembly six. The bill would give the governor seven appointments, the General Assembly six and the state’s commissioner of agriculture two. This commission sets pollution regulations.
Commission for Public Health: Right now the governor appoints nine members and the N.C. Medical Society, a doctors group, elects four. The bill would leave the governor five appointees, give four to the General Assembly and let the Medical Society elect four.
Board of Transportation: Now the governor appoints 14 members and the General Assembly appoints six.
The bill flips that, giving the legislature 14 appointments and the governor six. The Secretary of Transportation, appointed by the governor, would continue to serve as a non-voting board member.
Coastal Resources Commission: Right now the governor appoints nine members and the legislature four. The bill would give the General Assembly six appointments, the governor six and the state’s insurance commissioner one.
AG Stein says that this is a powergrab that violates Separation of Powers...
Fowell Concerned that Rising Health Care Costs May Affect State Workers
Since becoming North Carolina’s treasurer in 2017, Dale Folwell has energetically asserted that rising health care costs could significantly impact the State Health Plan.
It’s gotten to the point that lawmakers are considering a request from Folwell to force hospitals to cut what they charge the plan — or face shutdowns.
The plan, which Folwell’s office oversees, serves roughly 740,000 state employees, teachers, retirees and their dependents.
Adequate funding for it matters because it helps keep premiums low, co-pays at bay and benefits robust, he told The News & Observer.
If health care costs keep rising without adequate funding, Folwell said his office won’t be able to “hold the dam in terms of freezing family premiums and deductibles or copays,” which he said has been a priority for him.
Nationally, health care costs have increased faster than those in almost any other economic sector, according to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, which monitors the U.S. health system. From 2000 to 2021, health spending tripled, to $4.3 trillion, according to the tracker.
About half of that growth in spending can be attributed to hospital costs.
Is there a funding shortfall?
The revenue for the State Health Plan mostly comes from premiums paid by employees and contributions paid by employers, including state agencies, school systems, universities and community colleges.
The state, via the budget, funds the employer contributions for active state employees and qualifying retirees.
The State Health Plan had a cash balance at the end of May of $796.6 million. This was well above the target stabilization reserve, set at $359.9 million. This reserve is meant to tackle any unexpected costs and hiccups.
If the plan’s revenue increases by more than 18% from this year to 2027, and health care expenses grow by over 28%, there would be a nearly $1 billion deficit.
Read More at https://www.aol.com/news/rising-health-care-costs-might-090000079.html
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