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Newsletter May 27 2010

Ruth Samuelson
Ruth Samuelson

The document is a legislative update from Ruth Samuelson, a representative in the North Carolina legislature. It summarizes issues being addressed this legislative session, including the state budget, education reform, and two local bills Samuelson is sponsoring in Mecklenburg County. One bill would allow the county to add members to its Board of Equalization and Review to help handle an anticipated increase in property tax appeals. The other would make it easier for the county to lease land for renewable energy projects. Samuelson hopes these local bills and others from the Mecklenburg delegation will successfully pass through the legislative process.

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Capitol Commentary 418B Legislative Office Building Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 (919) 715-3009 ruths@ncleg.net May 27, 2010 Legislative Update Raleigh, NC Capitol Commentary from Ruth Samuelson The halls of the state legislature were bustling this week with a variety of groups working to ensure that their interests are represented during this legislative session. Here are a few issues getting attention that you should know about: The Budget: As a minority member of the House Appropriations Committee, it has been frustrating to sit in budget hearings and learn about myriad non-essential programs still being funded, even as legislative leaders appear ready to slash spending on law enforcement and education. Taken individually, none of these programs may seem significant in the context of a $20 billion budget. But together, they serve as evidence that legislative leaders have not done the difficult work of prioritizing spending. One example: a state task force to help local governments apply for federal sustainable development money, which will cost taxpayers
$500,000. Is a task force to help local governments do something they can already do on their own more important than public safety jobs? How many teachers could we fund with $500,000? Charter schools: House members approved an education reform bill this week designed to bolster the states chances of winning federal Race to the Top grant money, but in the process missed an opportunity to pass one measure that would actually help improve our educational system and help ensure funding: increasing access to charter schools. School reform advocates like me had hoped the bill would lift the cap on state charter schools which currently stands at 100. Instead, it simply allows local school boards to convert low- performing schools into charter-like schools that are exempt from certain public school rules but are still under school board control. Local bills: I am pleased to be a primary sponsor of two bills that will make life a little better for the people of Mecklenburg County. The first will allow Mecklenburg County to add more members to its nine-member Board of Equalization and Review, which in three-member sub-panels hears appeals filed by property owners who dont agree with the tax value placed on their property by county appraisers. With a property revaluation around the corner, and more than 8,000 appeals anticipated, it is important that that board have enough members so that property owners appeals can be heard in a timely fashion. The second local bill I am sponsoring will make it easier for the county government to lease to a private company property for renewable energy projects such as solar panel fields or geothermal heat pumps. Unfortunately, you may be reading in the newspaper that the Mecklenburg delegation is encountering obstacles in getting these and other local bills passed. I am still hopeful that these two common-sense measures, which have bipartisan support, will successfully make
their way through the legislative process. So stay tuned. Regardless of who is roaming the halls of the state legislative building, I always know that it is my job in Raleigh is to ensure that the interests of the 104th district are represented. So if you have any comments or questions about issues that are important to you, please dont hesitate to contact me at my legislative office at (919) 715-3009 or by email at ruths@ncleg.net or samuelsonla@ncleg.net. Best wishes, Rep. Ruth Samuelson District 104, Mecklenburg County

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Newsletter May 27 2010

  • 1. Capitol Commentary 418B Legislative Office Building Raleigh, NC 27603-5925 (919) 715-3009 ruths@ncleg.net May 27, 2010 Legislative Update Raleigh, NC Capitol Commentary from Ruth Samuelson The halls of the state legislature were bustling this week with a variety of groups working to ensure that their interests are represented during this legislative session. Here are a few issues getting attention that you should know about: The Budget: As a minority member of the House Appropriations Committee, it has been frustrating to sit in budget hearings and learn about myriad non-essential programs still being funded, even as legislative leaders appear ready to slash spending on law enforcement and education. Taken individually, none of these programs may seem significant in the context of a $20 billion budget. But together, they serve as evidence that legislative leaders have not done the difficult work of prioritizing spending. One example: a state task force to help local governments apply for federal sustainable development money, which will cost taxpayers
  • 2. $500,000. Is a task force to help local governments do something they can already do on their own more important than public safety jobs? How many teachers could we fund with $500,000? Charter schools: House members approved an education reform bill this week designed to bolster the states chances of winning federal Race to the Top grant money, but in the process missed an opportunity to pass one measure that would actually help improve our educational system and help ensure funding: increasing access to charter schools. School reform advocates like me had hoped the bill would lift the cap on state charter schools which currently stands at 100. Instead, it simply allows local school boards to convert low- performing schools into charter-like schools that are exempt from certain public school rules but are still under school board control. Local bills: I am pleased to be a primary sponsor of two bills that will make life a little better for the people of Mecklenburg County. The first will allow Mecklenburg County to add more members to its nine-member Board of Equalization and Review, which in three-member sub-panels hears appeals filed by property owners who dont agree with the tax value placed on their property by county appraisers. With a property revaluation around the corner, and more than 8,000 appeals anticipated, it is important that that board have enough members so that property owners appeals can be heard in a timely fashion. The second local bill I am sponsoring will make it easier for the county government to lease to a private company property for renewable energy projects such as solar panel fields or geothermal heat pumps. Unfortunately, you may be reading in the newspaper that the Mecklenburg delegation is encountering obstacles in getting these and other local bills passed. I am still hopeful that these two common-sense measures, which have bipartisan support, will successfully make
  • 3. their way through the legislative process. So stay tuned. Regardless of who is roaming the halls of the state legislative building, I always know that it is my job in Raleigh is to ensure that the interests of the 104th district are represented. So if you have any comments or questions about issues that are important to you, please dont hesitate to contact me at my legislative office at (919) 715-3009 or by email at ruths@ncleg.net or samuelsonla@ncleg.net. Best wishes, Rep. Ruth Samuelson District 104, Mecklenburg County