Last week, Town Manager Josh Ward and I drove to Raleigh to attend the annual legislative dinner sponsored by the North Carolina League of Municipalities. It was a two-day trip with us checking into a hotel and then immediately attending the reception and dinner. The next morning we drove back to Highlands.
As we drove on I-40 in the Asheville area, both of us were taken back by the negative impact caused by Hurricane Helene on the rivers and streams. Despite efforts at removal, there remains huge amounts of debris on the banks of these streams. In some areas, the actual path of a river has been altered.
Our legislative delegation, Senator Kevin Corbin, and Representative Karl Gillespie attended the event. I was there in part as a gesture of gratitude for all the support that they have given to Highlands and Macon County. The legislators have large districts and mayors from all those communities were there to convey their needs to the legislators. Mayors from Murphy, Franklin, Forrest Hills, and Maggie Valley were there, just to mention a few from this large assembly of municipal and legislative representatives.
A big topic for the entire session was recovery from Hurricane Helene. Our representatives have constantly worked with local officials to secure funds to rebuild affected areas. A large part of the state budget in this upcoming biennium session will be directed toward recovery from Hurricane Helene. Roads, bridges, homes, and businesses have to be replaced. It will take time; a lot of debate and discussion will go toward how to rebuild to prepare for future similar disasters. These recovery efforts will probably impinge on funds available for other needed projects.
A big topic of discussion among representatives from towns and cities was SB 382, passed by the legislature as a recovery package near the end of the short session in December. This bill has a provision inserted that prohibits towns and cities from down-zoning an area. Some here in Highlands might say that our recent amortization of STRs triggered this legislation, but this is not necessarily the case. Cities like Charlotte and Durham have been making zoning changes that were very problematic for some legislators. I got the feeling that many representatives of these large municipalities would like the legislature to revisit the bill and make adjustments and clarifications. Many towns are in the middle of revising their UDOs and comprehensive plans and want guidance on how to proceed from the legislature.
The morning after the dinner, I was listening to a local Raleigh television station where it was reported that a senate committee was upset about long waits at DMV offices to renew driver’s licenses. One senator stated we need to implement a DOGE process in the N.C. state government. Really? The problem with the DMV is not having too many examiners, but not enough. We need to hire more, not less. And the DMV salaries, which range from $30,000 to $39,000, need to be increased, just as teacher salaries and, for that matter, all state employees. Currently, 1 in 5 state positions remain unfilled.
North Carolina can do better. Yes, we want government efficiency, but we also want effective government.