RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Lawmakers expect Gov. Beverly Perdue's budget for the coming year will include ambitious efforts to improve North Carolina's public education and mental health systems, as well as spending cuts to help pay for them.
Perdue is scheduled Tuesday to propose adjustments to the $19.6 billion spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1.
The plan was approved by the General Assembly last summer. Legislative budget writers got a preview of Perdue's proposal last week.
Senior House budget co-chairman Mickey Michaux said Perdue also wants to make changes to personal care services provided by Medicaid. Sen. A.B. Swindell said Monday the governor didn't talk about cutting state employees or teachers. But he added program cuts usually mean eliminating jobs.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
REMEMBER,
It's Your Money. In my last post, I promised more; and more you shall get.
The Department of Cultural Resources lists 987 employees on its roster.
Consider the following:
Asst Director, State Archives $92,424
Battleship Memorial Director 85,200
State Library Director 106,787
Facilities Maintenance Mgr 62,796
Secretary, Cultural Resources 120.368
State Archeologist 75,336
Director of State Archives 115,080
Asst Dir of State Archives 91,646
Director, State Museum of Hist 100,974
Archives & Records Mgr 71,843
Folklife Program Administrator 62,983
Administrative Officer 110,675
Library Manager 79,963
Exec Director N C Arts Council 92,922
Exec Director, Roanoke Island 78,946
Legislative Affairs 70,000
H R Director 85,766
Director, Tryon Pal 88,498
Director, State Museum of Art $286,000
That's a total of $1,878,207 which is paid to 19 of the top employees in Cultural Resources. That's less than 2% of the employees listed for the Department who draw those wages.
Not a bad gig if you can get it. And don't forget to factor in benefit costs and probably some state vehicles as well.
Remember, it's your money.
It's Your Money
When the Governor & Legislature start talking personnel and salary cuts, consider the following positions:
Exec Sec Board of Barber Examiners $79,025
Exec Dir, Auctioneers Licensing Bd 60,000
Exec Dir, State Board of Cosmetic Arts 58,000
Or, how about this one:
The Education Lottery has 227 employees. Of these, we find the following:
Executive Director $246,750
5 Exec Deputy Directors $696,229 Total
10 Directors $1,061,810 Total
13 Managers (I stopped 952,726 Total
Counting after 13
A Gaggle of Specialists who average $55,000
Think about that; 227 employees; and the top 29 earn $2,957,515. Throw in 20 or so specialists; and you've pushed the threshold to over $4,000,000 total. That's before you get to all the workabees. Lottery Tickets are sold in retail outlets such as convenience stores. So what in the world do 5 Executive Directors, 10 Directors, and over 13 Managers do?
It takes a lot of ticket sales just to cover salary expense; and don't forget all of them are entitled to state benefits and many probably drive state vehicles.
Ever wonder why there aren't more funds going into the Education Fund? Look Above
This type of Agency should definitely be on a performance based compensation plan tied into profits going into the Fund.
It gets worse; more tomorrow.
RIGHT ON SURFCITYTOM
You have done your homework. If more people looked up where the money goes. They would be sitting on Perdue desk. Outrage. That is what gets me so about the schools in all counties. The money is there. I hope more people read this and get on the bus. And demand answers and it fix. Not covered up. RIGHT ON
Do the Math
The budget shortfall is $790,000,000.
Not Noticed yet is the $500,000,000 which is the amount Medicaid will overspend due to health care changes the government has implemented.
Take a revenue shortfall; add a budget spending excess; and what do you get?
A financially strapped state government.
When they start cutting jobs and salary, let's hope they start with these:
Spec Asst to Governor $ 90,000
Sr. Policy Associate 80,000
Special Adviser 109.509
Sr. Asst. for Admin 82,200
Deputy Legislative Counsel 97,000
Deputy Press Secretary 81,000
Policy Director 160,000
Education Program Dir 136,000
Executive Director 81,000
Sr. Asst for Policy & Legal 98,000
Another Special Adviser 154,000
Executive Director 130,000
Executive Asst to the 54,000
First Lady???
Director, Washington Office 91,846
Deputy Chief of Staff 154,000
Special Projects Coordinator 80,000
Chief Legal Counsel 150,000
Legal Counsel 120,000
Sr. Asst. Govt Affairs 150,000
Exec Director NCBCE 109,778
Director, Hispanic Affairs 65,000
Do the Math. There are 72 positions listed for the Governor's Office not including the folks who do the grunt work such as security, mansion upkeep, and so forth.
These 21 positions represent $2,273,333 in pay plus benefits and retirement.
That's a lot of pork.
What do Special Advisers do to each earn in excess of $100,000.
If the Deputy Chief of Staff draws $154,000, what must the Chief of Staff draw?
We have no "First Lady". But what does one do to earn over $50,000 annually as an Assistant?
And all of these Directors?
But wait, if there's a Director for Hispanic Affairs, why is there not one for Caucasian Affairs or African American Affairs? After her much publicized trip to China, one would think there might be one for Chinese or Asian Affairs.
Folks, this is just the tip of the ice berg.
How about all of those political appointees? You know the ones who serve at the Governor's Leisure. Here's an example. Representative Lucy Allen, from Franklin County, who's stepping down from her seat in the Legislature to be appointed Chairman of the NC Utilities Comission for which she'll receive in excess of $120,000 for working perhaps 6 days per month.
If you're a taxpayer, it's your money.
All of this is a matter of public record.
Get outraged when your tax refund is delayed.
When she's flying all over at the taxpayer's expense, get outraged.
Require Government to serve the people not their best interests.