The Wilmington morning star., 1947-01-14
Budget Commission Report
Calls For Record Spending

RALEIGH, Jan. 10 - (1 - The
General appropriations bill, which
was introduced in both houses OF
the General assembly Monday night
following delivery of the governor
budget message, calls for the
spending OF 5000, 645. SAT during the
coming biennium, by far the larg'
est spending program in the state
history.
In addition, Governor Cherry
asked that $44, sol, 437 be set aside
in a permanent Improvements at
state institutions, and if this sum
is spent during the next two years
- highly improbably because the
governor asked for authority to
spend it when a dollar worth
of value can be obtained for each
dollar spent - appropriations for
the biennium would total $348, 147,-
084.
A total of 1926, Ala, SGT is being
spent this biennium.
The Advisory Budget commits
sion, which prepared the appropria-
tons bill, proposed expenditures by
the general fund totaling $183, 1859,
1856 compared with $138, 438, 482 this
biennium; highway appropriations
totaling SAL, I'll, 968 - including
$23, $50, 600 in federal funds - com
pared with $151, ITS, 1878; and 81, 014,-
1923 by the agriculture fund COM
pared.with ST, 575, 901 this biennium.
Teachers Salaries
The measure provides funds to
increase the salaries of teachers
and state employees by 20 per cent,
for an enlarged highway patrol,
and for greatly increased operat-
ing expenses. at state departments
and institutions.
The budget report said that "the
appropriations recommended for
the mentally sick and feeble mind
ed have been increased very con-
~siderably in order to provide in
creased medical care and treat
ment which it is hoped will lead to
a greater number being cured and
returned to their homes, increased
food to provide better care and
treatment and larger saIaries to at
tract more nurses, attendants and
medical personnel.
However, the budget report said:
SIN the recommended appropri-
atoms all available highway funds
are committed to carrying out the
greatest highway program in the
states history. Plans have been
adopted to hard surface 80, 900
miles Of county roads at the rate
of 5000 miles per year for the next
10 years"
Maintenance Program
The bill would provide Sc, ESQ.,
GOO for each year OF the biennium
for the maintenance of state high
ways; $12, 500, 900 each year for
the maintenance or construction of
county highways; 81, 500, 900 each
year for general betterments; ST.
500, 900 each year for retreatment
work; $l1, 975, 900 each year to
match federal funds for the con-
struction of state and county roads;
$200, 900 for the scenic highway;
and $1,000, 900 each year for the
maintenance of highways in cities
and towns.
The highway appropriation would
provide $3.445.211 first year
and So, 1874, 2l1 for the second for
the Department of Motor vehicles
to increase office personnel of the
Motor Vehicles department and
provide for an increase from 213
to 423 in the personnel of the state
highway patrol.
OF the general fund appropria-
tons, the public schools would re-
ceive a total Of $121, 1888, 1874 for
the biennium compared with $685.
201, $40 this biennium and by far
the most of the increase would be
devoted to increases in teachers
salaries. The bill calls for $50, $780,
ia in school expenditures the first
year of the biennium and SCI, $685.
160 the second.
Old Age Grants
To provide increased old age as
sistence grants, 1,750, 600 would be
appropriated each year compared
with 81, 500, 900 being spent this
year, and $3.50, 900 would be spent
each year for aid to dependent
children compared with $3.50, 900
this year.
The executive and administra-
tive departments of the state would
receive Sc, 120, 1872 the first year
and Sc, 112, 801 the second for
operating expenses compared with
81, sos, 727 this year.
The higher education Institutions
would receive ST. 41, 1892 and Sc, $751;
287 during the biennium compared
with $4,641, 981 being spent this
year; charitable and correctional
institutions would receive $7,718,-
556 the first year and u, $3.50, 381
the second compared with S., 1853, liz
this year.
The proposed appropriations for
the: various institutions follows:
University of North Carolina ST..
254, 846 the first year and 81, 203,
Oil the second; N. C. State college,
1891, 221 and 1913, 996; Woman's col
lege, Greensboro, $3.50, 143 and