1. Capitol
Commentary
418B Legislative Office Building
Raleigh, NC 27603-5925
(919) 715-3009 – ruths@ncleg.net
May 27, 2010 Legislative Update Raleigh, NC
Capitol Commentary from Ruth Samuelson
The halls of the state legislature were bustling this week with a variety of groups working to
ensure that their interests are represented during this legislative session. Here are a few issues
getting attention that you should know about:
The Budget: As a minority member of the House Appropriations Committee, it has been
frustrating to sit in budget hearings and learn about myriad non-essential programs still being
funded, even as legislative leaders appear ready to slash spending on law enforcement and
education. Taken individually, none of these programs may seem significant in the context of
a $20 billion budget. But together, they serve as evidence that legislative leaders have not
done the difficult work of prioritizing spending. One example: a state task force to help local
governments apply for federal “sustainable development” money, which will cost taxpayers

2. $500,000. Is a task force to help local governments do something they can already do on
their own more important than public safety jobs? How many teachers could we fund with
$500,000?
Charter schools: House members approved an education reform bill this week designed to
bolster the state’s chances of winning federal “Race to the Top” grant money, but in the
process missed an opportunity to pass one measure that would actually help improve our
educational system and help ensure funding: increasing access to charter schools. School
reform advocates like me had hoped the bill would lift the cap on state charter schools –
which currently stands at 100. Instead, it simply allows local school boards to convert low-
performing schools into “charter-like” schools that are exempt from certain public school
rules but are still under school board control.
Local bills: I am pleased to be a primary sponsor of two bills that will make life a little better
for the people of Mecklenburg County. The first will allow Mecklenburg County to add more
members to its nine-member Board of Equalization and Review, which – in three-member
sub-panels – hears appeals filed by property owners who don’t agree with the tax value
placed on their property by county appraisers. With a property revaluation around the corner,
and more than 8,000 appeals anticipated, it is important that that board have enough
members so that property owners’ appeals can be heard in a timely fashion. The second local
bill I am sponsoring will make it easier for the county government to lease to a private
company property for renewable energy projects – such as solar panel fields or geothermal
heat pumps.
Unfortunately, you may be reading in the newspaper that the Mecklenburg delegation is
encountering obstacles in getting these and other local bills passed. I am still hopeful that
these two common-sense measures, which have bipartisan support, will successfully make

3. their way through the legislative process. So stay tuned.
Regardless of who is roaming the halls of the state legislative building, I always know that it
is my job in Raleigh is to ensure that the interests of the 104th district are represented. So if
you have any comments or questions about issues that are important to you, please don’t
hesitate to contact me at my legislative office at (919) 715-3009 or by email
at ruths@ncleg.net or samuelsonla@ncleg.net.
Best wishes,
Rep. Ruth Samuelson
District 104, Mecklenburg County