Carteret County Chamber of Commerce 2008 Legislative Agenda Summary These items are viewed as our top-tier priorities: ● Transportation – US 70 Corridor ● Small Business Health Insurance ● Support Our Military ● Coastal Stormwater Rules ● Waterway Access and Marine Industry Fund/Aquariums’ Project ● Coastal Protection and Recreation (Inlet Dredging, Beach Nourishment, Sand Management) ● Port of Morehead City Development ● School Calendar Law – “Save Our Summers” These items are also important components of our Legislative Agenda: ● Travel & Tourism Funding Support ● Educational Matters Communities in Schools/At-Risk Student Population State funding for Futures for Kids Funding supplements to Community Colleges Allocation of revenues from the state lottery ● Military Economic Development ● Marine Sciences ● Agriculture & Aquaculture Development ● North Carolina Economic Development Tiers ● Support for NC Chamber Issues Budget Reform/Fiscal Management/Spending Cap Reduce Corporate Income Tax Reduce Personal Income Taxes Restore the “Trust” in the Highway Trust Fund Environmental Concerns Session Limits Employment-At-Will Right-To-Work ● Cape Lookout Lighthouse Funding ● Support U.S. Scenic Byway Designation (US 70 & NC 12 Down East) ● Opportunities Related to Queen Anne’s Revenge ● Support of North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores ● Support of Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center ● Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP) ● North Carolina’s Eastern Region Oppose Lifting Cap on Charter Schools Oppose Amending Constitution Re: Election of State Supt. Oppose Appointed Local Boards of Education
Carteret County Chamber of Commerce 2008 Legislative Agenda These items are viewed as our top-tier priorities: ● Transportation Issues The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce recognizes that “transportation is the backbone of a region’s economic vitality. Without an adequate transportation system people cannot easily reach their intended destination, goods cannot be delivered in a cost effective manner and investors may look to invest in better served areas.” US 70 Corridor The US 70 highway corridor is central to Carteret County’s transportation system. The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce supports improvements to the US 70 corridor between Raleigh and Carteret County that will eventually result in a limited or restricted access thoroughfare that is designed to move traffic more efficiently and with greater safety. This will require construction of several bypasses along the existing US 70 corridor, or may result in construction on a new location of a toll road or turnpike facility. The Chamber commends the work of the US 70 Corridor Commission, which is a coalition of local, regional and state government agencies that share the vision for bringing US 70 up to freeway standards. The Commission is seeking to attract the needed resources to realize the vision. We support replacement of the Gallants Channel Bridge on US 70 from Radio Island to Beaufort. It is important that North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Project R-3307 move forward, because it is a pivotal piece of the overall plan to upgrade US 70 from Raleigh and to better serve the Down East communities. The solution must take into account the needs of both vehicular and boating traffic. The new bridge should be designed in such a way to eliminate delays and congestion, while improving accessibility for emergency vehicles that must travel US 70. We support a route that affects the fewest number of people and structures and has the least impact on the environment. We support construction of the Northern Bypass in Carteret County from the Port of Morehead City to connect with the Havelock Bypass in Craven County, known as Project R-4431, as part of the US 70 corridor. Again, we encourage NCDOT to select a route that affects the fewest number of people and structures and has the least impact on the environment. ● Small Business Health Insurance Recognizing that rising health insurance premiums and fewer insurance carriers are creating a crisis for small business owners in North Carolina, the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce supports reforms that effectively address the rising costs of health care insurance and give relief to small businesses…and enhance North Carolina’s ability to attract and retain a talented workforce. Small businesses are the backbone of Carteret County – 89 percent of all businesses in the county have five or fewer employees – and we suspect that many of these small businesses are unable to afford to provide health insurance for their employees. The burden then shifts to individuals, and we fear that many working families in our county are uninsured or under-insured. One health crisis can ruin them financially for life. The Chamber has endorsed House Bill 1719, which was introduced in 2007, to create a Joint Legislative Commission on Group Health Insurance for Chambers of Commerce. The Chamber asks the General Assembly to support legislation to accomplish this objective in 2008. The Chamber commends the General Assembly for establishing a Task Force for a Healthier North Carolina and supports establishing a statewide Office of Small Business Health Insurance Partnerships to provide a single source of information and be a portal through which small employers could purchase private health plans. Additionally, the Chamber urges consideration be given to rewarding those employers that implement workplace wellness and disease management programs with tax credits. State government can be the catalyst for positive change. ● Support Our Military Recognizing the military’s $19 billion annual economic impact on the state, the General Assembly should continue to implement policies that foster a military friendly environment, advance our military presence and promote opportunities for business and industry to benefit from military contracting. North Carolina must remain vigilant and in a state of “BRAC readiness”(Base Realignment and Closure) and continue to maintain and provide funding for those military-community organizations, such as Allies for Cherry Point’s Tomorrow (ACT), to ensure long-term base sustainability. The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce reaffirms its support of the Navy’s recommendation to homebase two Super Hornet squadrons at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, which is estimated to have a positive economic impact of more than $20 million a year. Furthermore, the Chamber requests that the State of North Carolina aggressively pursue locating the proposed Outlying Landing Field in North Carolina to serve aircraft from both NAS Oceana and MCAS Cherry Point. The Chamber encourages the establishment of a North Carolina Department of Military Affairs at the Cabinet level, reporting directly to the Governor. The announced Marine Corps buildup in eastern North Carolina brings both opportunities and challenges. With the expansion of military personnel and civilian employees at Camp LeJeune and the Air Stations at Cherry Point and New River, the region is facing a projected population growth over the next three years of more than 60,000 people. It’s like bringing “a new city” to eastern North Carolina. Representatives from seven counties have formed a regional Military Growth Task Force to begin to address infrastructure improvements that are necessary to accommodate this influx. The Chamber requests that state funding be channeled to this project to ensure a successful transition. ● Coastal Stormwater Rules The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce promotes principles of responsible growth and development and recognizes that Carteret County’s economic health depends on an inventory of taxable property and new business, commercial and residential development, as well as revitalization of under-utilized structures, to maintain our current favorable tax rate. The Chamber prefers an increased tax base rather than increased taxes. The Chamber remains fully cognizant of the fact that clean water, clean air and environmental protection/preservation initiatives are vital to maintain a sustainable economy and to expand future recreational and tourism opportunities and endeavors. In recent months, however, many concerns have been expressed about the environmental and economic impacts of new Coastal Stormwater Rules that have been approved by the Environmental Management Commission. Because a sufficient number of letters of objection have been received, the North Carolina General Assembly will have an opportunity to review and debate the appropriateness of the rules. The Chamber encourages the General Assembly to defer implementation of the new rules until the legislature can undertake a thorough and comprehensive economic impact analysis of environmental regulations and restrictions, in order to forecast the long-range cost/benefit consequences of such actions. The Chamber believes this process should be based on scientific evidence and sound judgment to ensure that outcomes are in the best interest of the citizens to enhance the quality of life in Carteret County and the State of North Carolina. ● Waterway Access and Marine Industry Fund/Aquariums’ Project The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce applauds the work of the Waterfront Access Study Committee for its recommendations that underscore the economic importance of maintaining adequate working waterfronts and public access to waterways in coastal North Carolina, associated with commercial and recreational endeavors. The Chamber commends the General Assembly for allocating $20 million in 2007 to the Waterway Access and Marine Industry (WAMI) Fund, and we encourage additional funding in 2008-09. Furthermore, the Chamber supports the North Carolina Aquariums’ request of $4 million from the WAMI Fund to help build and run three storm-resistant ocean fishing piers on the coast of North Carolina, located in close proximity to the Aquariums at Fort Fisher, Pine Knoll Shores and Roanoke Island. This initiative will preserve a coastal heritage and ensure the perpetual existence of a public fishing pier and an educational resource for visitors and residents of Carteret County. ● Coastal Protection and Recreation The beaches and waterways of Carteret County are the linchpin of our local economy, providing a huge stimulus for travel and tourism, real estate, marine sciences, boating, fishing and recreation industries here. However, the impacts extend well beyond the county and regional borders. Beach nourishment, sand management, environmental concerns and federal/state funding issues related to both beaches and waterways are challenging tasks that require multi-tiered support. Inlet waterway dredging projects along the coast are a paramount concern, and it is vitally important that North Carolina’s coastal inlets remain navigable to commercial and recreational vessels. This is both an economic and an environmental issue. Shoreline erosion caused by both human and natural forces, neglected waterway dredging maintenance, degraded water quality and an increased need for public access to these water resources can compromise the very reason industry and the public find the coast so attractive. The Carteret County Chamber supports a “no net loss of sand” initiative at the Morehead City Harbor. While the U.S. Corps of Engineers is responsible for maintaining (dredging) the harbor at the least possible cost to U.S. taxpayers for a given fiscal year, the cumulative offshore disposal of sand from Beaufort Inlet has diverted this precious resource from reaching the adjacent beaches of Bogue Banks. Couple this disposal (dumping) practice with the fact the federal government is abrogating and abandoning its responsibility for funding beach nourishment altogether, and a real need has surfaced to review how sand is managed at the Harbor. Carteret County’s efforts to codify these needs into its Land Use Plan and to seek a new sand management program at the harbor are highly commendable. This essentially equates to supporting an over-arching “no net loss of beach sand” initiative. The Chamber is also cognizant of the many stakeholders involved with the effort, especially the North Carolina State Ports Authority, and it is important that these interests are taken into proper consideration. ● Port of Morehead City The Port of Morehead City is one of the only ports on the Eastern Seaboard with possibilities for greater utilization. The North Carolina State Ports Authority is investing substantially in an active expansion and upgrade of the Port here, incorporating the Radio Island site into the master plan. It’s important that the State of North Carolina continue to provide adequate funding support for port expansion and development and capitalize on a growing shipping industry. By doing so, North Carolina will realize increased economic benefits through additional local, regional and statewide jobs and local and state tax revenues from cargo handled through the Ports. The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce supports extension of Ports tax credits for customers who use the Ports. (Tax credits will sunset in January 2009, so this needs to be addressed in the 2008 short session.) We support retention of the rubber businesses at the Ports, especially with companies that apply for state grants to receive state economic incentives. Also, the Chamber believes it would be prudent to explore ways that the Ports can be effectively integrated into the military cargo system. Additionally, we support state legislative and regulatory initiatives that address commercial rail access to North Carolina’s Ports. ● School Calendar Law – “Save Our Summers” During the 2004 session, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation mandating the school year for public school students start no earlier than August 25 and release no later than June 10, to benefit the travel and tourism industry. The Carteret Chamber of Commerce believes this calendar has achieved the economic benefits that travel and tourism officials had forecasted. The Chamber endorses the “Save Our Summers” initiative. Therefore, the Chamber asks that you oppose any attempt to change this bill or grant unnecessary waivers.
These items are also important components of our Legislative Agenda: ● Support for Increased Funding for the North Carolina Division of Travel & Tourism With tourism being one of the mainstays of Carteret County’s economy, the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce encourages you to support increased funding for the North Carolina Division of Travel & Tourism. ● Education The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce supports: ▪ State funding for the Communities In Schools initiatives to address at-risk students, ensuring that they receive encouragement and support to be successful in school. ▪ State funding for career exploration tools that prepare our students for the world of work. A positive program is Futures for Kids, which offers technology-based career exploration tools. ▪ State funding supplements to Community Colleges for high-cost programs. Additional funding is needed to cover the higher costs associated with state-of-the-art technology in the delivery of technical education curricula, such as in the marine sciences and in nursing and allied health careers. Although the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce took no position on the merits of a State Lottery, we continue to be concerned about the allocation of revenues from the lottery and encourage the General Assembly to ensure that these revenues are used to supplement funding for public education in North Carolina, not supplant it. The distribution of these funds should be based on an equitable per pupil formula. ● Military Economic Development The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce urges the General Assembly to continue to promote military-related economic development programs that will increase the military’s impact on eastern North Carolina and the state. The Chamber encourages continued funding for procurement and business development resources, such as the North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC), which is working in collaboration with the community colleges to leverage the presence of the military to increase military business for existing North Carolina companies, support recruitment and development of defense-related businesses in North Carolina and integrate transitioning military personnel and family members into the workforce. Through www.MatchForce.org, the NCMBC matches North Carolina businesses to government contracts, government purchasers to North Carolina suppliers and matches job seekers to North Carolina jobs. This online service has opened doors of opportunity for numerous local businesses and is deserving of continued state support. ● Marine Sciences Carteret County is home to one of the most extensive and diverse collections of marine science agencies in the country. This is essentially an untapped economic engine for coastal communities, and for the entire state, which could lead to new product development, start-up companies and sustainable employment. The Chamber seeks legislative support, working through the university and community college systems, to: ▪ Provide resources that encourage collaborative marine science research that has commercial potential and results in job creation. ▪ Provide resources for a shared-used facility to incubate new product development. ▪ Provide resources to expand aquaculture, not only in growing food products, but also in biopharmaceuticals and other products from marine-based organisms. ● Agricultural & Aquacultural Development In support of the agricultural and aquacultural interests of the region, the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce encourages legislative activity that will promote job growth within the farming and fishing industries here. ● North Carolina Economic Development Tiers North Carolina’s system of county tier designations, as mandated by state law, for economic development incentives, tax credits, etc., is fundamentally flawed. The law designates the 40 “most distressed” counties to be ranked as Tier 1 counties, the middle 40 counties to be designated as Tier 2 and the 20 “most prosperous” counties to be Tier 3 counties. In practice, eligibility for tax credits and incentives are weighted in favor of Tier 1 counties. The Department of Commerce states that the “rankings are based on as assessment of each county’s unemployment rate, median household income, population growth and assessed property value per capita.” Because Carteret County is a resort area with high property values, it is ranked as a Tier 3, or high wealth county. The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce believes the formula needs to be revised to take into account wage rates, utilization rates with Social Services demands and other factors. Carteret County is largely a rural county with pockets of acute poverty that are masked by expensive real estate holdings owned by people who live and work elsewhere. ● Carteret County Chamber Supports NC Chamber Issues The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce generally supports the Legislative Agenda advanced by the NC Chamber (formerly North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry of NCCBI). North Carolina should create a tax environment that provides a stable, predictable, competitive and equitable tax base. Encourage Budget Reform/Fiscal Management/Spending Cap The General Assembly should focus on reforming the state’s budget process with special attention to efficiencies in state government and focusing on the state’s core missions. Fiscal expenditures should not be based on revenue projections, but rather should be based on some other measure such as the amount of prior fiscal year revenues or population growth and inflation. Adequate reserves should be put in the state’s rainy day fund for unanticipated needs. Moreover, the budget should be approved prior to the beginning of the state’s fiscal year (July 1). Reduce Corporate Income Tax North Carolina’s corporate income tax rate is among the highest in the Southeast and considerably higher than surrounding states. To increase North Carolina’s competitiveness, the NC Chamber and the Carteret County Chamber of Commerce support a reduction in the corporate income tax rate to below 6%. Reduce Personal Income Taxes Many small businesses (i.e. partnerships, LLCs, S corporations) pay taxes at the personal tax rate as opposed to the corporate income tax rate so the personal rate adversely affects small businesses and entrepreneurship. Because of this impact over time North Carolina’s highest marginal personal income tax rate should be reduced to less than 6%. Restore the “Trust” in the Highway Trust Fund The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce asks that the State of North Carolina apply the brakes and cease making annual transfers from the Highway Trust Fund to the General Fund and any other transfers to non-transportation uses. These transportation funds should be used exclusively for transportation purposes in order to restore the public’s trust. Environmental Concerns Protection and preservation of our natural resources is vital to the future of North Carolina. The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce supports the NC Chamber’s positions as they relate particularly to permitting, solid waste management, groundwater standards, air quality standards and water quality standards. Furthermore, it is important that economic impact be considered in establishing policy, regulations, procedures, guidelines and timelines. Session Limits The NC Chamber urges the General Assembly to limit legislative sessions to a specified number of calendar days for both the long session and the short session. The “short session” should be limited to budget matters and legislation needed to address urgent issues. Employment-At-Will The NC Chamber supports the employment-at-will doctrine because it is beneficial to employers and employees alike: it allows businesses to respond to fluctuations in the economy and to balance their labor force needs, and it gives employees the freedom to seek new job opportunities as their talents and inclinations dictate. We oppose any erosion of employment-at-will. Right-To-Work The NC Chamber firmly supports every citizen’s right to work without regard to membership or non-membership in a labor union. We oppose any erosion of North Carolina’s right-to-work law (N.C.G.S. § 95-78). ● Cape Lookout Lighthouse The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is the most recognizable symbol of Carteret County. The transfer of the Lighthouse from the U.S. Coast Guard to the National Park Service at Cape Lookout National Seashore in 2003 has provided the opportunity to open the Lighthouse to the public. This has provided a major boost to the county’s and state’s tourism efforts. Due to safety issues related to the condition of the Lighthouse stairway, however, the Lighthouse was closed to the public climbing in February 2008. There is a sense of urgency now to encourage state and federal funding support to accelerate the restoration and re-opening of one of North Carolina’s most historic structures. ● Support U.S. Scenic Byway Designation Efforts are currently under way to seek designation of the “Outer Banks National Scenic Byway” which as proposed will run between Beaufort and Cedar Island in Carteret County (US 70 and NC 12) and via ferry across Ocracoke Island in Hyde County and continue through Whalebone Junction in Dare County. This designation will bring national attention to this route and will help to promote ecotourism and heritage tourism initiatives within our Down East communities. A designated route can bring critical state and federal grant monies for a variety of projects such as bicycle/ hiking trails, kayak trails, signage, brochures and community and regional planning. Support from state and federal legislators will be helpful in achieving this national designation. ● Opportunities Related to Queen Anne’s Revenge The wreck of Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge in Beaufort Inlet is one of the most important historical pirate sites in the world, and is currently lying dormant and at risk off Carteret County’s coast. There’s a strong desire to retrieve and preserve the historic artifacts as well as a wonderful opportunity to promote and nurture this historic discovery to attract tourism to Carteret County and North Carolina, including sport divers from all across the country. Hence, there is a realization that the archaeological and preservation interests associated with the site must be balanced with tourism development interests. With the appropriate agencies of state government acting cooperatively, including the Department of Commerce, we envision a win-win situation to preserve and display the artifacts for public viewing and to maximize the tourism and marketing potential of Queen Anne’s Revenge. ● North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores The May 2006 opening of North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores has been a tremendous boost for regional tourism. This spectacular attraction is not only providing wholesome family entertainment, it offers extraordinary educational outreach opportunities, which flow from the Aquarium’s mission. The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce appreciates the support shown by the General Assembly to continue to allocate adequate funding to sustain Aquarium operations that ensure full utilization of this valuable resource, providing maximum services to the citizens of North Carolina and thousands of out-of-state guests who visit this site. ● Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & Heritage Center The establishment of the Core Sound Waterfowl Museum in Harkers Island in 1992 has been a great attraction, promoting cultural and heritage tourism. This facility has sought to preserve artifacts that represent the traditions of our Down East communities and reflect the spirit of past generations. The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce appreciates the support shown by the General Assembly in the past to provide funding for the Museum, and we are supportive of future allocations to help finance the completion of the Exhibits/Gallery portion of the facility. This will ensure full utilization of this valuable resource, providing maximum services to the citizens of North Carolina and thousands of out-of-state guests who visit this site. ● Community Conservation Assistance Program (CCAP) The Community Conservation Assistance Program, which was created by 2006 legislation, provides technical assistance and cost share funds for non-agricultural landowners to install best management practices that improve water quality. Under the program, homeowners, civic groups, municipalities and others can apply for cost share funds for projects such as backyard wetlands, permeable surface conversion, stream bank restoration and cistern installation. The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce encourages the General Assembly to allocate sufficient funding for qualified projects in Carteret County to reduce stormwater runoff. ● North Carolina’s Eastern Region The Carteret County Chamber of Commerce wishes to express its concerns about pending components of a 2008 Legislative Agenda that is being proposed to represent the Chambers of Commerce of Eastern North Carolina. Let it be known: The Chamber would oppose lifting the cap on charter schools in North Carolina. The Chamber would oppose amending the state constitution to deny voters the right to elect the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Chamber would oppose denying voters the right to elect members to local Boards of Education. |
