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RALEIGH -- Gov. Mike Easley wants to raise cigarette and alcohol taxes in order to fund teacher pay raises and services for the mentally ill.


What do you think of the proposal? Join the discussion at the Debatables blog.

In a budget released this morning, Easley proposed stepping up cigarette taxes from 35 cents a pack to 55 cents. The increase would raise $99 million to increase teacher pay. Taxes on beer, wine and liquor would also increase, with the additional $66 million in revenue going toward various mental health programs.

Much of the governor's new spending is aimed at fixing problems identified during the past year at both state hospitals and in community mental health programs. Easley proposes a weekend sales tax holiday in October for energy star rated appliances.

North Carolina's budget runs from July 1 through June 30. The General Assembly returns to Raleigh Tuesday and will spend much of the next two months developing the state's final tax and spending blueprint. The governor's proposal would spend $21.5 billion total, a 4.2 percent increase from the year before.

Items of particular interest to the Triad include:

* $42.6 million for a new classroom and office building at UNCG.

* $5 million in appropriations for three facilities at the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro: a new children's nature zoo, replacing the Zoo Africa pavilion and renovating the polar bear exhibit.

* $450,000 to renovate a cottage at Haw River State Park.

* Allows the Department of Agriculture to sell 6.3 acres at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market and use up to $3 million in proceeds from the sale to buy adjacent properties or make other improvements.

Contact Mark Binker at (919) 832-5549 or mark.binker@news-record.com