Daily News

Dan Kane, J. Andrew Curliss and Ryan Teague Beckwith, Staff Writers Major differences in budget proposals by Gov. Mike Easley, the state House and Senate leaders:

* TAXES: The House and Easley would extend temporary tax increases on sales and income taxes for another two years. The Senate lets them expire, which saves taxpayers $300 million in the first year alone.

* STATE PAY RAISES: The House would give most state employees a 4.25 percent raise, while the Senate is proposing a 4 percent increase. Both are more than the 2.5 percent raise proposed by Easley. All three agree on other pay raises: 5 percent (on average) for teachers, community college faculty and administrators, and judges; a 2 percent cost of living adjustment for retirees.

* COURTS: The Senate plan includes $37 million in new fees to pay for more court personnel and technology upgrades. Out-of-state lawyers, for example, would pay $100 more to practice in North Carolina courts. The fee for criminal defendants appearing in District and Superior courts would increase $10.

* MEDICAID: The House plan provides $100 million in one-time money to help counties pay for their share of Medicaid costs. The Senate only provides language saying legislators "intend" to find a solution to the issue by July 1. (more….)

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 30th, 2007 at 4:34 am and is filed under Daily News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.