WHAT HAPPENED: The General Assembly overrode vetoes, prepared constitutional amendment questions for the November ballot and handled other business in what was widely expected to be 2018's final week of legislating.
WHAT IT MEANS: While lawmakers closed out the 2018 short session today, their adjournment resolution calls for a reconvening in late November.
ON TAP: Not much else, seeing as lawmakers closed the books on regular business as of today.
THE SKINNY: The short session that began in May saw hundreds of bills filed and many put into law, including a $23.9 billion budget. Lawmakers left open-ended any business they could take up during the November reconvening, which would follow the General Election. That led critics to charge that the majority party was seeking one more bite at the apple, should they lose their supermajority, which would give Gov. Roy Cooper's vetoes more staying power.
The League is accepting proposals for 2018-19 Advocacy Goals through Aug. 1. Discuss ideas with your municipal elected officials and staff, and
click here to submit your ideas for advocacy goals. Every two years, you -- the cities and towns of North Carolina -- develop legislative and regulatory goals for the upcoming legislative biennium. These goals serve as the guide to the League's advocacy efforts here in Raleigh. More than that, they are a collective statement of the priorities of North Carolina municipalities, big and small, urban, suburban and rural. The process of setting the Municipal Advocacy Goals is an opportunity for each municipality to have a voice in telling state legislators and other state policymakers what is important to them.
The advocacy goals also propel us towards two of the
Vision 2030 Operating Principles: (1) municipal governments exercise greater control of their revenues, structures and functions, and (2) municipal governments engage in productive partnerships with other levels of government and the private sector.
Legislative and regulatory goals should include a clear ask, and should have an impact on municipal governments statewide. According to League bylaws, you must indicate on your goal proposal whether it was voted on and approved by your local council or board. Proposals will be considered by NCLM policy committees, the NCLM Board of Directors, and the entire membership during the Advocacy Goals Conference. The League may also request that you visit one of our
policy committees to further explain your suggested goal, as a part of the goals selection process.
This is your policy process, so please give this thoughtful consideration and participate. Don’t miss this opportunity to submit your proposals by Aug. 1.
The League has released its latest Revenue Report examining state-collected local revenues received by local governments for the third quarter of fiscal year 2017-18. These reports provide a snapshot of quarterly trends in state-collected local revenues and supplement the League’s annual Revenue Projections memo, released in March. If you have any questions regarding the Revenue Reports or revenue projections, please contact League Research Strategist Caitlin Saunders.
