Budget Revenue Enables School Districts to Rehire Teachers, Protect Jobs
This year's budget shortfall was a major challenge. It was the toughest budget situation since the Great Depression, with a $4.5 billion shortfall. While the final version of the budget was far from perfect, it did include significantly more revenue for public schools than previous proposals. Additionally, public school systems are directly receiving almost $600 million in federal recovery funds during the next two years.
So far, at least a dozen superintendents in North Carolina have already announced they will restore or save teacher jobs by maximizing those resources. Governor Perdue strongly urges superintendents across the state to do the same.
"Schools rush to fill vacant positions," Charlotte Observer
"Wake schools rehire many who were let go," Raleigh News & Observer
"No school personnel cuts expected despite reduction in state funding," Clayton News-Star
"Scores of teachers to get job offers in Gaston County," WBT
"Nearly all Buncombe schools teaching positions are saved," Asheville Citizen-Times
"Pitt schools coping with fewer cuts than anticipated," Greenville Daily Reflector
Gov. Perdue Signs North Carolina Racial Justice Act
Gov. Perdue on Tuesday signed Senate Bill 461, the North Carolina Racial Justice Act, which permits defendants and inmates to challenge death sentences by presenting statistical evidence of racial bias. The bill was sponsored in the Senate by Sen. Floyd McKissick (D-Durham) and in the House by Rep. Larry Womble (D-Forsyth), Rep. Earline Parmon (D-Forsyth), Rep. Paul Luebke (D-Durham) and Rep Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford).
"I have always been a supporter of death penalty, but I have always believed it must be carried out fairly," said Perdue. "The Racial Justice Act ensures that when North Carolina hands down our state's harshest punishment to our most heinous criminals - the decision is based on the facts and the law, not racial prejudice."
The Racial Justice Act will allow inmates on death row and persons charged with a capital crime to present a judge with evidence that shows race was a significant factor that led to the imposition of the death sentence. If the judge agrees with the evidence, the death sentence can be overturned to life in prison without possibility of parole.
Deutsche Bank to Create 319 Jobs in Wake County
Deutsche Bank AG will open a technology development center in Wake County. Operating as DB Global Technology Inc., a newly formed subsidiary, the company plans to invest $6.7 million and create 319 jobs during the next five years.
"This new center is a great fit for North Carolina. We are a strong international competitor in both the information technology and financial sectors," Perdue said. "Our reputation for excellence in these areas, combined with a dedicated workforce and a top business climate, continues to attract quality global companies such as Deutsche Bank."
Perdue has made creating well-paying, sustainable jobs a top priority of her administration through the JobsNOW initiative. The new jobs at DB Global Technology will pay an overall average wage of $88,213, not including benefits, which is significantly higher than the Wake County average of $43,160.
Through Perdue's JobsNOW initiative, the state will continue to work aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain workers, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.
Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) is a leading global investment bank with 78,896 employees in 72 countries. For more information about the company, including employment opportunities, please visit www.db.com .
Visitor Spending Rises in 62 N.C. Counties in 2008
Gov. Bev Perdue announced on Wednesday that 62 of the state's 100 counties saw increases in visitor spending in 2008, including 16 counties that had increases of more than 5 percent.
Data from the N.C. Department of Commerce's Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development showed domestic visitors to and within North Carolina spent a record $16.9 billion in 2008, an increase of 2.1 percent from 2007.
Visitor expenditures directly generated 190,500 jobs and nearly $4.2 billion in payroll income within North Carolina in 2008. Payroll increased 3.9 percent from 2007. Visitor spending in the state also directly generated close to $2.7 billion in tax revenue for federal, state and local governments in 2008, up 3.6 percent from 2007.
"We know that current economic conditions are affecting businesses all across the state, including those in the tourism industry," Gov. Perdue said. "But this continued economic growth, and especially growth in tax revenues, is encouraging."
The visitor spending figures are the results of an annual study commissioned by the Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development and conducted by the U.S. Travel Association.
Individual county data on spending, tax revenue and employment is available here.
Governor's schedule for the coming week
Tuesday, August 18
- Recovery Meeting
- Early College Tour, Surry Community College Campus, Dobson
Wednesday, August 19
- Read to 1st grade class, Sparta Elementary, Sparta
Thursday, August 20
- NC State Fireman's Association
- Wreath Laying Ceremony
Friday-Sunday, August 21-23
- Southern Governors Association Events, Williamsburg, VA
Agenda includes sessions on: Climate Change, Energy and National Security; State Based Climate and Energy Policy; Developing a Smart Electricity Grid; Balancing Energy Demands with Climate Goals; and Transportation