General Government FY 2009-10 Budget Recap

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FY 2009-10 Budgeted Appropriations: $440.8 M

FY 2008-09 Estimated Actual Spending: $460.5 M

General Government’s FY 2009-10 budget is less than last year’s estimated actual spending. This year’s spending, however, still does mark a 27 percent increase in five years. The agency did not receive any federal funding to help supplement its appropriations for FY 2009-10.

NOTABLE CUTS

• A total of 188.7 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions are recorded as “cut” from the General Government budget. 110.5 of those are taken from the Administration agency.
  • Of those 110.5, only 1 involves the cutting of an actually filled position. The rest of the cuts eliminate vacant positions, transfer the funding for positions to another agency, or switch the positions to fee-supported.
  • Of the remaining 78.2 FTE positions eliminated in General Government, 65.45 of them were vacant.
• Reduction of $1.5 million to the Voter-Owned Elections Fund Balance.

NOTABLE EXPANSIONS

• $250,000 one-time appropriation for “planning efforts associated with the establishment of the Justice for Sterilization Victims Foundation.”
• $1.5 million expansion of support to the NC symphony.

QUESTIONABLE SPENDING
In spite of the deep recession and what we are told is a “budget crisis,” many questionable projects in the General Government department still received significant funding. Several of the following items had their allocations cut slightly, but observers may still wonder about Raleigh politicians’ priorities  as they still receive such funding during these economic times:

• $17.5 million for statewide programs and grants for local cultural activities
• $8.7 million for state historic sites
• $8.6 million for the NC Arts Council
• $2.9 million for the NC Symphony
• $2.6 million for Tryon Palace
• $994,000 for a “Youth Involvement Office”