Guilford County is considering an additional 1% Prepared Food and Beverage Tax, with the support of Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan. Critics worry that could harm local restaurants as they recovers from the pandemic, while advocates say it will boost revenue for the county.
On Wednesday, Oct. 11, the House Oversight and Reform Committee listened to representatives from the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) over multiple concerns, including outsourcing driver's license production to a Canadian company.
A $2.5-billion-dollar bond referendum is slated to be placed on the November ballot this year, as Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) looks for support to fund 30 different projects in the school district.
Gov. Roy Cooper has declared the week of Sept. 25 "Clean Energy Week." Whether that indicates he will sign Senate Bill 678, "Clean Energy/Other Changes," remains unclear.
The North Carolina General Assembly has passed the state budget with a vote of 70-40 just after midnight Friday. The chamber held session until approximately 11:45 on Thursday night, adjourning until 12:10 Friday morning for a third and final vote.
Focusing on tax cuts and development projects in the more than $30 billion budget, Tuesday evening the leaders announced that the Senate will vote on the conference report at 2:00 PM Thursday with final votes at 9:30 AM Friday. The House is planning to hold budget votes on the floor on Wednesday and Thursday. Their agreement does not contain legalization for casinos or video lottery terminals.
Republican leaders have confirmed a new strategy that is expected to get Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, the casinos he wants. That strategy includes a plan to expand Medicaid and legalize casinos in the same bill.
Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper recently paid a visit to the Mary Washington Howe Pre-K Center in Wilmington to announce an $8 million funding initiative for preschools across North Carolina.
House Republicans announced on Tuesday that they will not hold any more votes this week and plan to come back into Raleigh next week. The state budget, originally expected to finalize by the end of June, has fallen victim to differing House and Senate priorities. A quick run of the vote math shows that Republican leaders are unlikely to reach an agreement this month.
A recent analysis detailing an on-going crisis for the commercial real estate market in U.S. cities has experts concerned that such predictions could reach their way to the Queen City.
The state legislature appeared to be in a standoff over legalized casinos, as both sides of the issue play their cards close to the vest. In an email this week, Speaker Tim Moore told the House Republican caucus that there was not enough support to add language in the budget that could allow casinos in North Carolina.
