Local citizens pass on ideas for easing N.C.'s budget problems
By Casey Hurley
Feb. 20, 2003 9:16 p.m.

When legislators consider the state budget crisis, they look through a political lens. They discuss zero-based budgeting models, raising taxes and cutting spending. Few "big ideas" emerge.

Therefore, in a recent article on the state budget crisis, I concluded: "we should not expect revolutionary ideas to emerge in government."

Arden resident Ken Shick took issue with this conclusion. His e-mail said, "There are numerous examples of innovation in government. What about Social Security and Medicare? And, in North Carolina, what about the Blue Ridge Parkway and Great Smoky Mountains National Park? These were revolutionary ideas. It seems our legislators today lack vision. Some are ideologically bound. They can't even carry on the visionary programs that were passed down to them."

If these are the kinds of "big ideas" needed to address our economic crisis, and govern ourselves in ways that improve the quality of life, where will they come from? Local citizens had several ideas.

A drive across North Carolina on Interstate 40 suggests there are good reasons to think about our state as three distinct regions - the mountains, the piedmont and the coast. Have our legislators considered writing laws that take this into account?

This approach would mean that environmental legislation, for example, could be targeted to just those regions where it makes sense. This idea may run counter to our "equal protection under the law" principle, but "big ideas" have never been implemented without rethinking fundamental assumptions and applying creative solutions.

In a recent column, Western Carolina University Chancellor John Bardo asked legislators to examine the other side of this state boundaries issue (AC-T, Jan. 12, Page A9): " . . . it is important to look beyond our borders and link Western North Carolina with nearby technology clusters in surrounding states." In other words, when possible, form partnerships that cross state borders.

This may be the right time for Southeastern states to work together. Other states have worked across borders. In the 1970s, for example, both Wisconsin and Minnesota passed legislation that allowed residents of either state to pay in- state tuition at either university system.

Lee McMinn, of Brevard, wants legislators to hold a lottery referendum. He wrote, "It was unconscionable that our representatives, who reflect the will of the people, didn't allow the will of the people to be expressed, even in something as nonbinding as the lottery referendum."

He also suggested that North Carolina increase the cigarette tax and stop spending tobacco settlement money to teach farmers how to grow organic tobacco. He wrote, "Wouldn't it be better to teach them how to grow corn for ethanol or some other alternative fuel?"

South Asheville resident George Lycan has paid taxes in several states. The retired airline pilot wrote, "North Carolina is getting killed by people not paying enough state income tax. It's really a big item - mostly mid- to high- income people involved. It's a big part of the `missing' budget dollars."

Swannanoa resident Michael Morgan said North Carolina should stop locking up drug offenders. They need treatment, not incarceration, he said. Morgan believes treatment is a better way for the state to spend its money.

He also suggested that the state building code should encourage the use of solar power on new construction, and the state should pass laws protecting clean water. He believes Western North Carolina could generate revenue by marketing water to other parts of the state and nation.

Don Yelton also had an idea that would protect the environment. He said the state should encourage protection of the watershed by delaying tax increases on unused, undeveloped grasslands. Only after development of these lands should the state increase and collect a higher property tax.

His other idea was to coordinate waste disposal efforts with local schools. Solid waste could be disposed of more inexpensively if the county worked with school districts to involve students in recycling programs.

Some of these ideas are small, but they all have the potential to affect how North Carolina is governed. Will any of them be considered? Only time will tell.

The budget may not be the main crisis facing North Carolina. Eventually, the budget will be balanced. State law requires it.

Maybe a bigger crisis involves loss of faith in government. During interviews for these columns, both legislators and citizens expressed concern about the legislative process. Will this year's budget wrangling engender more, or less, faith in our state government?

Dare we hope the recent election of House co-speakers, for the first time in North Carolina history, will force legislators to look at things through lenses that are not political - lenses that break from traditional ways and foster creativity?

Casey Hurley is a professor of educational administration at Western Carolina University. He writes occasionally about leadership and regional issues for the Citizen-Times editorial pages.