The Civitas Institute is asking impolite questions about the rate of money flooding into Raleigh. An analysis by the General Assembly Research Division notes that the General Fund Revenue collections are up $254.2 million so far this year. Should this pace continue, always a big if, there could be a surplus of $600 million on the table when the General Assembly meets to write the next state budget in 2007.
Civitas analyst Becki Gray points out that the current gang in power in Raleigh has a track record of spending every penny they can, right down to starting new programs to be able to spend more. Meanwhile, basic government functions like courts and roads go unfunded in Mecklenburg. Something has got to give. At a minimum, the county’s delegation will have no excuse next year when it come to funding critical needs.
