Budget Bonanza

Gov. Perdue’s budget is out. It includes sin tax increases and spending cuts across the spectrum, with some increases, mostly on education. It does not include new revenue streams or plans to close corporate tax loopholes, for reasons that completely escape me. Now it will be up to Bev to sell her plan while working with Senate budget writers as they begin drafting their own plan. Here’s a little non-exhaustive round-up of how Perdue’s plan is playing across the state.

In Asheville, the Citizen-Times has a staff-written story, “Perdue proposal plans to close $6.4 billion budget shortfall”. It covers Perdue’s decision to close some correctional facilities, including one in Haywood County, “the loss of which would have ‘a devastating effect’ on the region, Haywood County commissioners wrote to state officials.” County legislators have pledged to fight the closure. Asheville says: It’s on.

In Fayetteville, The Observer a staff and wire story that leads with “Perdue’s budget includes job cuts, tax increases” and touches on Sen. Tony Rand’s potential objection to the cigarette tax hike, Sen. Linda Garrou’s definite objection to said hike, and county commissioners’ resistance to closing a Hoke County prison. Fayetteville says: Not so much.

The Greensboro News-Record, lucky enough to have Mark Binker reporting, went with, “Governor’s budget proposal would close McLeansville prison”. The piece chronicles local objections to the Guilford County prison closing, and the higher sin taxes, while noting that “colleges such as UNCG and A&T are still evaluating the cuts handed down by the governor”. Greensboro says: Meh.

Wilmington’s Star News ran Gary Robertson’s AP story, titling it “Perdue’s NC budget would raise tobacco, alcohol taxes”. It includes Garrou’s reaction to the cigarette proposal and House Minority Leader Paul Stam’s blanket anti-tax reaction. No local reaction for folks on the coast. Wilmington says: No reaction.

The N&O led with “Perdue lays out her plan for riding out hard times: Budget is austere, especially for drinkers, smokers, prisoners”, by staff writers. It’s a surprisingly short piece, with five main points. Inside the coverage continued with reaction from the state GOP chair (she dislikes Perdue’s reliance on federal stimulus money) and various legislative leaders. Raleigh says: Trouble ahead?

Thank God we still have some newspapers. The newspaper is dead, long live the newspaper.