Infrastructure Funding When the House and Senate had moved into mid-August without final budget approval, the budget proposals from both chambers continued a trend of investing large sums in water, sewer, and transportation infrastructure, which remain key legislative goals of cities and towns. More than $750 million was poised to go to water, sewer and stormwater programs. State aid to municipalities for roads, better known as Powell Bill, was expected to increase by 10%, with a total allocation of $170 million for the new fiscal year. Substantial new investments also were proposed for law enforcement training programs, reflecting another key priority of cities and towns. Hundreds of millions also went to economic site preparedness, local parks and capital improvements for local airports. 2023 Legislative Session Recap Grassroots advocacy in action. Newport Mayor Dennis Barber speaks at a League event with Sen. Michael Lazzara—a former local elected official himself. Photo credit: Ben Brown At the time of this magazine’s publication, the state budget is only just reaching the finish line. A detailed review of the yet-passed budget will be provided this autumn in our End of Session Bulletin. This document will not only review the intricacies of the budget, but will recap the entirety of the 2023 session. If you receive the weekly Legislative Bulletin, then you will receive this special document as well. The cover page from NCLM’s End of Session Bulletin, published after the last legislative long session in 2021. WHAT’S NEXT? NCLM’S HOUSING REPORT North Carolina, like much of the rest of the country, faces a crisis in housing affordability. In response, NCLM, along with its partners, undertook action to understand the scope of the problem, local policies and processes related to housing, and possible ways to better address the issue of affordable housing. This report examines those findings, delves more deeply into the causes of the housing affordability crisis, and looks at ways to help North Carolinians better accomplish the goal of home ownership and finding housing that fits their budget. Read the full report at https://www.nclm.org/advocacy/housing-crisis. More Information to Come Without a final gavel falling on this year’s legislative session, the possibility of surprises always remains. Still, the likely results proved again that the voices of municipal officials, exercised collectively, are a powerful force. There may have been days, filled with hurried committee meetings or exasperating floor votes, where the gloom blocked out the sun, where it appeared those voices weren’t being heard. Then they were. A legislative session is not a sprint, but a marathon. It certainly has been in 2023. Pictured here, some images from this session of both legislative leaders and NCLM Government Affairs staff. Photo credit: NCLM NCLM.ORG 21
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