N.C. Senator Ellie Kinnaird's Newsletter

February 27, 2009 Newsletter

Dear Friends,

Ellie Kinnaird

Greetings from Raleigh.

This week, the Senate passed a few measures that might be of interest to you:

One initiative I supported will allow local health departments the discretion to determine if harmful chemicals are present in newly constructed private wells. This common-sense measure will allow safety without unnecessary government regulation. Another bill allowed for more flexibility in filling crucial judicial vacancies. Finally, we approved a measure to make the legislative ethics committee more efficient.

This week, we continued to receive briefings on the state budget situation and the serious challenges we face. We are constitutionally obligated to balance the budget and that will require cuts. We expect Governor Perdue to send her budget recommendations to the General Assembly in March and we are already at work on the budget, which will be considered first in the Senate this year. I will keep you informed as we proceed.

Some of you might already be working on your taxes and I wanted to make sure you knew about important exemptions that you, your friends, or relatives might be eligible: the federal and state Earned Income Tax Credit. These credits are especially helpful for working families with dependent children. Because of the economic stress our communities are feeling, it is critical that working families get full credit in filing their taxes for the work they have done. I urge everyone to encourage their neighbors to explore whether they qualify for the tax credit as they file their taxes. Some who are not otherwise required to file an income tax return because of their low income levels should file a return to claim the credit for which they may be eligible.

The EITC provides working families earning less than $41,646 in 2008 a credit on their earned income. The credit can put more than $4,800 in the pockets of those who qualify; the average credit is $1,735. As an additional incentive, this year workers can also claim the new North Carolina EITC, which was passed by the General Assembly in 2007 and is worth 3.5 percent of the federal credit. For some families with two or more children, the two credits combined can be worth close to $5,000.

Call the North Carolina Toll-Free Tax Helpline 1-800-927-3230 for more information or go to http://www.eitc-carolinas.org/ .

As always, please feel free to contact me to share your opinions on any issue you feel is important, and thank you for the opportunity to serve you in the Senate. I hope you have a nice weekend.

Paid for by Ellie Kinnaird for Senate • PO Box 668, Carrboro, NC 27510 • 919-929-1607 •