The N.C. Senate appropriations committee met early Wednesday to modify a bill providing aid for the western part of the state, which is still recovering from last fall’s hurricane season.
Just hours later, the $214.5 million package unanimously passed the full chamber.
The bill passed 48-0 and will help homeowners, businesses and local governments by offering $123.5 million in addition to money already set aside for recovery efforts.
The original Hurricane Act of 2005 last month cited the destruction left in the region — 11 deaths, 140 destroyed homes and 16,234 damaged homes. It also outlined the basis for monetary assistance to the area.
Sen. Kay Hagan, D-Guilford, co-chairwoman of the appropriations committee, highlighted the bill’s positive aspects.
“Our goal is to help the area of the state that suffered devastating destruction,” she said. “These hardworking people don’t usually ask for help, and we want to get their tourist economies booming again.”
In addition to money from the state’s Disaster Relief Fund, the bill originally called for using the state’s reserve fund — valued at $267 million — as well as $91 million in General Fund reversions.
But with the state facing an estimated $1.3 billion deficit, lawmakers met with Gov. Mike Easley’s administration to discuss whether the proposed amount of funding was greater than the actual need.
“The administration believes that the proposed amount greatly exceeds what is necessary for these efforts,” said Bryan Beatty, secretary of the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. “There are also expenses that have not been covered in past relief efforts.”
