2009 Legislative Agenda State Priorities

For a printer friendly version, download a PDF of the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce State Agenda. State Legislative agenda is broken down into the following priorities:

Top State Priorities

Healthcare: Authorize Buncombe and contiguous counties to conduct a demonstration project of Small Business Health Insurance linked to a community rated product purchased by large private and public employers with waiver of DOI regulations that currently inhibit a community wide insurance product.
Education/Workforce Development: Fund public education
Economic Development: Support incentives and a dedicated source of funding to attract jobs to protect this important economic development tool and reauthorization and funding of Job Development Investment Grant
Transportation: Request adequate funding for the I-26 Connector Project, including aesthetics design components
Green Building and energy conservation efforts: Support incentives and programs to enhance green building and energy conservation efforts

Develop innovative and sustainable methods of funding transportation and water/sewer infrastructure to meet needs on a statewide basis, including a mix of funding methods such as bonds, public-private partnerships, local option revenue, tolls, and new revenue sources
Continue efforts to stop the transfer of funds from the Highway Trust Fund to the General Fund for non-transportation related projects
Fund highway maintenance for roadway and bridge safety to help preserve and protect our existing transportation system investment in North Carolina
Request adequate funding for the I-26 Connector Project to be maintained and that planning, design, and construction proceed according to current schedules and without further delays, including aesthetics design components
Address a long-term funding plan for infrastructure improvements for the realization of passenger rail service between Asheville and Salisbury, as well as statewide
Provide $2 million in funding for the implementation of roadway upgrades recommended in the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay Study

Fund public schools based on the number of students to address additional students with disabilities.
Increase local school board authority regarding school calendar and mandated spending allotments
Provide additional assistance for the rising number of students with mental health issues in our schools
Provide increased funding for Career & Technical Education teaching positions to parallel the Standard Course of Study
Change the distribution of the lottery formula to ensure the fair and equitable support of school districts across the state and in Western North Carolina.
Fund Smart Start at the current FY09 level for 100 counties to support quality childcare for working families
Support legislation to allow public school systems to regain access to sales tax refunds (County)

Fund North Carolina Community Colleges an additional $1,000 per student over the next four years ($60 million for 2009-2010; $47 million 2010-2011; $47 million 2011-2012; $47 million 2012-2013)
Fund University of North Carolina Asheville request for the North Carolina Center for Health & Wellness
Year 1: $2,371,288 total – ($1,143,788 recurring plus $1,227,500 non-recurring)
Year 2: $2,756,036 total – ($2,164,536 recurring plus $591,500 non-recurring)
Fund the University of North Carolina Asheville Carmichael Hall & University Lecture Hall
2009 $1,100,00 planning dollars (approved by the General Assembly in 2008 and funds are frozen)
2009/2010 $12,850,500
2010/2011 $12,850,500
Support the request of The North Carolina Arboretum for the Bent Creek Institute for $300,000 total recurring funds for research support
$300,000 for 2009-2010 – recurring and $190,000 for equipment/instruments- non-recurring)

Endorse HB 212 to authorize Buncombe and contiguous counties to conduct a demonstration project of Small Business Health Insurance linked to a community rated product purchased by large private and public employers with waiver of DOI regulations that currently inhibit a community wide insurance product.
Oppose any efforts to mandate or require employers to provide specific benefit coverage under group healthcare plans
Support legislation allowing tourism or diverse industry businesses to combine to purchase health insurance or form a Multiple Employers Welfare Association (MEWA)
Increase North Carolina’s cigarette tax and encourage dedicating all or a portion of the additional revenues to address healthcare needs in North Carolina
Support legislation to ban smoking in public parks and within 50 feet of government buildings (City request)

Support legislation that reforms Medicaid without loss of benefit or cost shifting to business
Support increased state funding for payments to Medicaid providers with matching federal funds

Support incentives to attract jobs that compete better with surrounding states and establishing a dedicated source funding to protect this important economic development tool
Support reauthorization and funding of Job Development Investment Grant
Oppose efforts to erode NC’s Right-to-work laws
Support the request for the Momentum Science and Health Adventure Park
Support the request for $5 million for the expansion of the Asheville Art Museum

Support incentives and programs to enhance green building and energy conservation efforts
Support appropriate air quality initiatives of the State of North Carolina

Institute fiscal impact analyses regarding tax relief programs and exemptions enacted by the General Assembly which would provide transparency on a county-by-county basis with respect to the local effects of tax breaks being proposed
Support legislation to clarify the definition of charities eligible for tax exemption
Support efforts of the new House & Senate Select Committee for Program Evaluation to address efficiencies in North Carolina government

Support legislation allowing for a broader range of implementation of local affordable housing programs (City request)
Fund the North Carolina Housing Trust Fund
Support authorization and funding for “quality of life” enforcement program (nuisance court), similar to Durham.
Support clarification of authority to regulate vehicle towing from parking lots (City request)