Opponents lining up against billboard bill (WRAL)

Cities and environmental advocates across North Carolina are banding together to oppose legislation that would loosen restrictions on billboards statewide.

Senate Bill 183 would allow digital billboards, which change every few seconds to advertise different products and services, every 1,500 feet on either side of a highway or major thoroughfare. Under the proposal, the distance between […]

2011-03-22T08:28:51+00:00March 22nd, 2011|

City council worried about proposed gas tax cap (Star News)

Local officials fear an initiative to cap the state’s gas tax will mean fewer dollars for paving and building roads.

The DOT is opposing state legislation that would cap the motor fuel excise tax rate where it is now at 32.5 cents a gallon.

The DOT’s analysis also says the cap would save the average driver $7.50 […]

2017-05-24T08:56:17+00:00March 22nd, 2011|

Weatherly elected to the coalition (Apex Herald)

Although Apex only ranks as the 22nd largest municipality in North Carolina, its voice will be heard by decision-makers in all of the state’s biggest cities.

Mayor Keith Weatherly was recently elected to the executive committee of the NC Metropolitan Mayors Coalition at their 2011 winter meeting in Greensboro.

The coalition focuses on state and national issues […]

2017-05-24T08:56:17+00:00March 21st, 2011|

Digital Billboards (THE FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER)

The billboard industry is pushing legislation that would erase city and county regulations that prevent billboard owners from converting traditional signs into those that resemble giant flat-screen TVs. The change would apply only to billboards adjacent to major routes, such as interstates and primary highway system roads. A billboard industry lobbyist said sign owners should […]

2011-03-21T08:43:46+00:00March 21st, 2011|

Asheville exceeds NC’s average population growth (Citizens Times)

Region’s mild climate, quality of life attracts newcomers

ASHEVILLE — Western North Carolina’s largest city grew faster over the past decade than the state average, according to 2010 U.S. census data released Wednesday.

Asheville’s population has increased 21 percent since 2000, rising to 83,393 people. Buncombe County increased 15.5 percent to 238,318 people.

As the South’s second-fasting-growing state, […]

2011-03-17T15:11:30+00:00March 17th, 2011|

Gas Tax Cap, State Budget, Billboards, Census Update March 17

Gas Tax Cap

Reps. McElraft, Killian, Hager, Stone, Ingle, Jordan, LaRoque, and H. Warren have introduced H399 to cap the gas tax at the current rate of 32.5 cents per gallon.  The gas tax is the major funding source for NC’s transportation system including resurfacing, construction, and Powell Bill revenues. 

Capping the gas tax […]

2017-05-24T08:56:17+00:00March 17th, 2011|

Stage set for fireworks in Raleigh (Citizen Times)

Congressional redistricting is triggered every 10 years based upon the completion of the Census. So that’s where we need to start. Over the past decade the population of the United States increased by 27 million to a total of 309 million people. This is an increase of 9.7 percent, which is one of the lowest […]

2017-05-24T08:56:17+00:00March 17th, 2011|

Census: Asheville population increased 21 percent in last 10 years (Citizen Times)

ASHEVILLE — Western North Carolina’s largest city grew faster than the state average, according to 2010 U.S. Census data released today.

Asheville’s population increased 21 percent in the last 10 years to 83,393 people, while Buncombe County increased 15.5 percent to 238,318 people.

North Carolina grew 18 percent to 9.5 million people.

Military communities grew slower by half […]

2017-05-24T08:56:17+00:00March 17th, 2011|

Mayor calls census numbers ‘skewed’ ( Citizen Times)

 The Town of Black Mountain’s mayor, Carl Bartlett, believes the U.S. Census Bureau has understated the 2010 population of Black Mountain.

If he is right, the mistake could cost the town, because Census figures help determine sales tax distributions, road money, and federal aid. The Census showed Black Mountain’s population grew by only 4.5 percent from […]

2017-05-24T08:56:17+00:00March 17th, 2011|

Black Mountain disputes census count (Citizen Times)

BLACK MOUNTAIN — Mayor Carl Bartlett believes the U.S. Census Bureau has understated Black Mountain’s 2010 population, and town officials said they might challenge the count.

If Bartlett is right, the mistake could cost the town because census figures help determine sales tax distributions, road money and federal aid.

The census showed Black Mountain’s population grew by […]

2011-03-17T14:50:45+00:00March 17th, 2011|
Bitnami