House budget heads to floor with smaller increases for film incentives, port improvements

By GARY D. ROBERTSON
Associated Press

RALEIGH, NC (AP) – The House budget finally heading to the floor has dialed back driver’s license and car registration fee increases and the amount of new money going to help lure movie and TV productions to North Carolina.

Republican budget-writers made more changes Thursday in a committee to the two-year government spending plan that still spends more than $22 billion annually. Floor debate began Thursday afternoon.

The changes respond to concerns from some GOP lawmakers that the budget raised Division of Motor Vehicles fees too much and expanded too many incentives.

Now DMV fees would go up 30 percent, instead of 50 percent. That means $173 million less than anticipated over two years for ports improvements and road resurfacing. Film grants money also is now $40 million annually compared to $60 million previously.

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