Regional Briefs: Finance panel may raise tax on sales, pay

RALEIGH -- House Democrats would raise sales and income taxes as well as taxes on alcohol and cigarettes in a plan to help narrow a state budget gap of more than $4 billion.

House Finance Committee senior chairman Paul Luebke said last night that the $940 million offer will be presented before the panel this morning. Luebke said that the money would be used to reduce some proposed cuts in education and health care.

The plan would change the sales-tax rate most people pay from 6.75 percent to 7 percent, and two new income-tax brackets would be created for the state's highest wage earners. The cigarette tax also would go up 25 cents a pack to 60 cents.

Gov. Bev Perdue added her voice to the loud chorus of those who want the House to pass a budget that includes new taxes to balance it.

Perdue told House members yesterday to use what she called a "combination of spending reductions and new revenue" in the budget plan.

Bill approved to set floor on gas tax

RALEIGH -- Legislators have sent to Gov. Bev Perdue a bill that would prevent North Carolina's gasoline tax from going down next month.

The House gave final legislative approval last night to a Senate bill that would turn the current cap on the gasoline tax at 29.9 cents a gallon into a floor. That means it could go no lower than 29.9 cents through the middle of 2011.

Perdue's office said that the governor is expected to sign the bill into law.

Under the new law, state taxes at the pump won't go down 2 cents a gallon to 27.9 cents on July 1 as expected under the current law. The tax will still be readjusted twice a year based on the wholesale gas prices.

Lexington to keep 56-cent tax rate

LEXINGTON -- The Lexington City Council unanimously approved a $91.9 million budget last night that keeps the property-tax rate at 56 cents for every $100 of assessed value.

That means that a property owner with a $100,000 home will pay $560 in city taxes.

The total budget is a $3.9 million decrease from the current budget, which is $95.8 million. City officials eliminated eight vacant positions and mandated that employees take a total of 48 hours of unpaid leave.

Before voting, the council opened a public hearing on the budget, but no one spoke.

Bunce to fill term of Kiger, who died

LEXINGTON -- Linwood Bunce, a local attorney, was appointed last night by Lexington City Council to fill the remaining term of Victor Kiger, who died two months ago.

The city council voted 6-1 to appoint Bunce, who was one of eight people in Ward 3 to apply. Council member Becky Klass didn't vote for Bunce.

Kiger, 51, collapsed near the Lexington Post Office on State Street on the morning of April 3, hitting his head in the fall. He died three days later at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Kiger was elected in 2005, and his term expires this December.

Bunce has served on a number of boards, including the Lexington City Board of Education and the Lexington Planning Board.

Forsyth OKs nonemergency service

Forsyth County commissioners unanimously approved yesterday the granting of a nonemergency ambulance franchise to LifeStar Emergency Services LLC.

LifeStar would become the second non­emergency ambulance transportation company operating in Forsyth, the other being NuCare Carolina Inc.

Dan Ozimek, the county's emergency medical-services director, said that the need for nonemergency transport is strong enough to support both companies.

Since the county EMS still handles some nonemergency calls, Ozimek said, having a second nonemergency provider will help keep EMS ambulances available for emergencies.

The LifeStar franchise must pass a second reading June 22 to go into effect. The franchise would begin Aug. 1 and run for two years.

Service to be Wednesday for trooper

WILKESBORO -- A memorial service will be held Wednesday for a state Highway Patrol officer who served in Wilkes County.

Master Trooper Kyle Barber died May 19 at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center of complications from surgery related to an on-duty injury two years earlier.

The memorial service will begin at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday outside the Walker Center at Wilkes Community College. A procession of Highway Patrol cruisers and other emergency vehicles will travel from Barber's home near Roaring River beginning at 2 p.m. They will travel along a route that includes U.S. 421 to arrive at the memorial service.