Fitzsimon File

Governor Easley will deliver his State of the State speech to state lawmakers Monday night. Just in case Easley is still putting the finishing touches on his address, here is a statistical view of the state of the state with hopes that Easley will fashion his speech and his budget with these facts in mind.

The State of the State:

1,136,000 people in North Carolina live in poverty.

More than 1 in 5 children live in poverty.

50 % of people eligible for food stamps do not receive them.

1.4 million people do not have health insurance.

1 in 4 children in kindergarten come to school with untreated tooth decay.

36 percent of high school students do not earn a diploma in four years.

1 in 4 high school students smoked in 2003.

76.6 percent of people 25 and older do not have a college degree.
25,000 people are now living with HIV/AIDS and 2,100 new cases were diagnosed in 2003

North Carolina denies lifesaving HIV/AIDS drugs that cost $13,000 a year to people who earn more than $11,600 a year.

26,000 children are on the waiting list for a day care subsidy.

There is 1 school nurse for every 1,568 students. The federal government recommends a ratio of 1 to 750.

There is 1 school counselor for every 367 middle school students. The recommended ratio is 1 to 250

797,500 people pay more than 50 % of their income for housing. Banks recommend.
no more than 30 percent.

Foreclosure filings tripled from 15,000 in 1998 to 44,000 in 2004.

Bankruptcy filings increased nearly 50% from 2000 to 2003.

The average prison population in 2003 was 33,646 inmates, up 60% from 1993.

It cost $21,141 to keep each prisoner per year.

African-Americans are 22 % of the population, but 60% of prisoners and 71 % of the state’s HIV/AIDS cases.

23% of African Americans live in poverty, 25% of Latinos, 21% of Native Americans, and 8% of whites.

Governor Easley, what is your plan?

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