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4:11 a.m. • 2-10-12

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Budget analysts question Perdue's math


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Gov. Bev Perdue
Gov. Bev Perdue

The Fourth of July break was the latest obstacle to the passage of a new state budget. With little compromise reached during two weeks of discussion, lawmakers weren't scheduled to return to negotiations until Tuesday.

"We've kind of jumped the track right now. We're not getting along very well with one another," Senate Majority Leader Tony Rand said.

The House and Senate are trying to erase a projected $4.6 billion deficit and agree on how to raise $1 billion in new revenue. The revenue side of the equation has proved to be the most contentious point of the debate, with the House calling on increases to sales and income taxes and the Senate seeking new taxes on many services.

Gov. Beverly Perdue last week demanded a new budget, saying the state was losing $5 million a day by operating on a continuing resolution.

Legislative budget analysts said Monday that the governor's math doesn't add up because the continuing resolution the General Assembly approved to keep state government running specifies that spending needs to be kept at 85 percent of previous levels.

"If we had tax credits or tax increases going into effect on July 1, it would be costing us, but we didn't," House Majority Leader Hugh Holliman said.

In the House plan, some additional taxes are planned for Aug. 1, but the majority of them would be effective in either October or January.

"I think she's trying to light a spark under all of us over here, but I really don't think we need a spark. I think we know we need to get the job done," said Holliman, D-Davidson.

Perdue's office declined to provide a breakdown of how the governor arrived at the $5 million-a-day figure.

Holliman said House leaders gave Senate budget writers a budget proposal and are waiting for a counter-offer to restart negotiations.

RELATED TOPICS: Beverly Perdue

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The "temporary" tax increases would run out in mid-2010.

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History tells that there is no such thing as "temporary" tax increase !!! :(((

jpquick, you are absolutely right! $5 mil a day is lost revenue from new taxes. That's $64.52 PER MONTH that a family of four will have in their pocket instead of the government's coffers. And don't be nieve, increased taxes on businesses and the "rich" is a tax on everyone, EVERYONE. I pass increased taxes on to my employees in lower salaries and to the people that buy my services and products, and to renters.

OK - so this woman is supposed to be a teacher and she has math trouble? What about those poor kids she taught?

The N&O is reporting that Purdue has requested a "temporary" sales tax increase of one cent, plus higher income taxes for the upper wage brackets, plus a $0.50/pack cigarette tax increase, plus alcohol/beer tax increases, to reach her magical $1.6 billion figure. The "temporary" tax increases would run out in mid-2010.

I'm surprised she is proposing the one tax increase that impacts the most people, and hits the poor the hardest. I guess when she said she was an "education governor" she meant "I'll beggar the entire state to support the education lobby".

She can't do math or run a state. Go figure. Who elected her?

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People who voted for CHANGE party line !

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