Communities in the 39 counties declared federal major disaster areas due to Hurricane Helene are suffering while waiting on funding to come from the federal government and the state. Local governments and unincorporated communities are accruing huge budget deficits trying to meet the needs for and costs of rebuilding and recovery on their own. Lost revenue sources (property, sales and occupancy tax and utility use revenue) is forcing counties to make unexpected mid-year changes that are impacting vital services, such as a $4 million cut Buncombe County made in April from the public education budget. A critically important “revenue replacement” Helene-recovery bill that has bi-partisan support – NC Senate Bill 671 (SB671) – is in the Senate Appropriations/Base Budget Subcommittee. It needs to be moved forward by May 8th (this week) to have a chance of getting to the floor for a vote this term. Passing this bill would help these 39 counties preserve more of their budgets for education, health care, affordable housing, and other vital services impacting poor and low-wealth people. It is important to point out that many of these counties exceeded the state average for % of households and children living in poverty prior to Helene. These individuals, families, and children are hurting and need your help!
As a reminder, Hurricane Helene was the largest federal disaster in North Carolina based on the scale of damage, estimated at $59.6 billion, and devastation it caused. May 8 is the end of crossover week, where bills must pass their chamber of origin to be considered in the other, and have a chance of being considered in the next two years.
The Western Circle NCPPC is partnering with Building Our Buncombe County Affinity Together (BOBCAT) and calling on its members who live in the districts of the bill’s co-sponsors and members of the Senate appropriations committee – where the bill has been introduced – to demand that Senate Bill 671 be brought to the floor of the Senate by the 5/8 crossover deadline. SB671 approval would bring the needed funding to impacted areas.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Email your State Senator! We have an email template that you can personalize and customize below. You can find their email addresses using the links in their names provided below.
** This is a priority ** Reach out to other folks you know in the below counties and encourage them to do likewise! Do you know folks in the counties listed below? Forward this email to them and invite them to join you in reaching out to these crucial Senators. Share with them the same email template.
- Senator Ralph Hise – Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Caldwell, Haywood, Madison, Mitchell, Watauga, Yancey
- Senator Brent Jackson – Bladen, Duplin, Jones, Pender, Sampson
- Senator Michael Lee – New Hanover
- Senator Timothy Moffitt – Henderson, Polk, Rutherford
- Senator Warren Daniel – Buncombe, Burke, McDowell
- Senator Julie Mayfield – Buncombe
- Senator Sydney Batch – Wake
For people living in counties directly impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Subject: Our cities and counties need revenue replacement
Dear _____________,
I am writing to thank you for the $100 million in loans for local government disaster relief in WNC and for continuing to advocate for support in the long-term recovery of our region. At this moment we are closely watching SB671 in hopes it will be considered in the Appropriations/Base Budget Subcommittee. I urge you to consider this bill in order to provide our local governments with adequate funding to compensate for the decrease in revenue from the impact of Helene. As you well know, the drastic decrease in sales tax revenue and tourism from the hurricane badly hurt the budgets of our small towns and counties in the west. These “revenue replacement” funds are needed to sustain critical services and assist in the recovery of WNC, including emergency services provided by Sheriff, Police and Fire departments in our county.
If there is not enough time to get this bill passed, please encourage your House colleagues to include it in their budget, or keep it in mind when going into the budget conference committee later this year. There are multiple opportunities to meaningfully help our local governments so that they can continue to focus their efforts on recovery.
Thank you for your support and I look forward to hearing good news from you next week.
Sincerely,
For people living in Bladen, Duplin, Jones, Pender, Sampson, New Hanover, and Wake counties.
Subject: Our cities and counties need revenue replacement
Dear _____________,
I am writing to advocate for support in the long-term recovery of areas in NC devastated by Hurricane Helene. At this moment I am closely watching SB671 in hopes it will be considered in the Appropriations/Base Budget Subcommittee. I urge you to consider this bill in order to provide local governments in Helene disaster areas with adequate funding to compensate for the decrease in revenue from the hurricane’s impact. As you well know, the drastic decrease in sales tax revenue and tourism from the hurricane badly hurt the budgets of small towns and counties in the west. These “revenue replacement” funds are needed to sustain critical services and assist in the recovery of WNC, including emergency services provided by Sheriff, Police and Fire departments in these communities.
We anticipate increasing damage to be caused by climate related natural disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires, in NC. Passing SB671 sets an important precedent for how NC recovers from natural disasters and protects our local communities from economic harm. It is the people of NC that make our state great. Supporting local communities and municipalities supports the people of NC.
If there is not enough time to get this bill passed, please encourage your House colleagues to include it in their budget, or keep it in mind when going into the budget conference committee later this year. There are multiple opportunities to meaningfully help our local governments so that they can continue to focus their efforts on recovery.
Thank you for your support and I look forward to hearing good news from you next week.
Sincerely,
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