Wimington Star
RALEIGH | Members of the N.C. House spent most of Wednesday debating details of their $16.5 billion state spending plan.
Among the provisions in the long document, several were aimed at Southeastern North Carolina in general, with the
University of North Carolina Wilmington a big potential winner. The plan also includes money for special projects at Cape Fear
Community College and the state ports. The budget won’t become law until the governor signs a version agreed
upon by the Senate and the House.
Here are some highlights of proposals that would benefit our area:
$9 million: Improve state ports, including new cranes at Wilmington’s facility
The House proposal expands on the $5 million Gov. Mike Easley and the Senate proposed for improvements at the ports at Wilmington and Morehead City but is less than the $16.5 million the ports wanted. Ports spokeswoman Karen Fox said the State Ports Authority likely would purchase four new container cranes for the port at Wilmington and improve the Morehead City dockside.
$15 million: Help counties pay their share of Medicaid
A new proposal in the House version would create a one-time $15 million fund to help county governments pay their share of the health insurance program for poor and disabled people. Columbus and Bladen counties would be eligible for extra aid because more than a fifth of their residents are eligible for Medicaid. State Medicaid administrators would determine each county’s portion.
$1.4 million: Establish a public defender’s office for New Hanover & Pender counties
In a new item not found in the budget proposals from the governor or Senate, the House would add New Hanover and Pender counties to the 22 counties covered by full-time public defenders.
The money would pay to hire a full-time public defender for people accused in criminal cases who can’t afford attorneys. It also would fund 11 assistant public defenders, two investigators and three office workers.
The counties would have to provide office space. In counties with full-time defenders, many cases are assigned to private attorneys, according to the N.C. Office of Indigent Defense Services. The system is paid for by money appropriated by the General Assembly and by defendants, who must pay the cost of their defense if convicted.
In January, an analysis by the IDS office found that the government could save money in the New Hanover-Pender judicial district by switching from an assigned lawyer system to a full-time public defender. (more…)
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