A sampling of editorials from NC newspapers

Policymakers must tap new water rules

When North Carolina found itself in a widespread drought that threatened communities across the length and breadth of the state, state policymakers discovered two key things: They didn't know enough about the state's water resources, including who uses how much water how often. And the state doesn't have a lot of authority to deal with water emergencies while local governments often didn't even have a drought plan to help them use declining water supplies. Now they do, thanks to a new law. That's good.

But the better news is that the General Assembly's Environmental Review Commission ordered a comprehensive study of the state's water and the way it is allocated. The study, conducted by researchers at UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University, focused on four areas: drought response, water supplies insufficient to meet demand in key areas, the controversial interbasin transfer process, and local and state water supply planning.

What researchers found, among many other things, is that beyond certain allocation rules in areas already at capacity use, the main guideline is that water use be "reasonable." That's not very helpful in a state projected to increase in population by 50 percent by 2030. With demand rising and drought stressing water supplies as well as the public, the need for a comprehensive water policy that helps preserve supplies, create new ones, meet the needs of the state and resolve disputes is important.

To accomplish those goals, the allocation study recommended that North Carolina create a permit system for large water users — those consuming more than 100,000 gallons a day. It recommended developing planning models for each of the state's 17 river basins to establish water-use budgets. It called for water conservation rules statewide, and urged water systems to charge rates sufficient to cover the costs of supplying water.

That's critical. When users don't pay the full cost of water operations and maintenance, there's little conservation ethic — and not enough revenue to maintain the system, let alone improve or expand it. And it called for sharing water — in-state and regionally.

These recommendations are the kinds of steps the state ought to take to make sure there's sufficient water in this state's future, drought or no drought. But adopting them won't be easy in a legislative session that convenes Jan. 28 and which will have another drought in mind — a shortfall of revenue to meet state services.

Lawmakers must realize that without adequate water supplies, the state will have a difficult time meeting the needs of its residents, recovering from the recession and making sure there's enough water for industrial and commercial operations.

As the report's authors note, North Carolina had more water than it needed for its population for a long time. Legislators must make sure there will be enough water for the population on its way here.

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From Asheville Citizen-Times, Dec. 10

North Carolina must patch up frayed probation system

Tight economic times have families making tough decisions about spending. The same math applies to North Carolina's budget; the order of the day is to do more with less.

However, there are some areas where more spending is in order.

Social services are obviously going to be stressed and need attention.

On the flip side of the societal equation, there is a crying need for additional spending on some law and order sectors.

In the wake of an investigation by the Raleigh News&Observer, it's hard to argue there's a better place to begin than with patching up North Carolina's horribly frayed probation system.

The N&O probe showed "Since the start of 2000, 580 people have killed in North Carolina while under the watch of state probation officers — 17 percent of all convictions for intentional killings."

The bottom line is not a pretty one: it's not uncommon for probation officers to simply lose track of people.

There are plenty of reasons for this. One is sheer volume; the state is charged with tracking well over 100,000 persons on probation.

Probation officers face a high caseload, relatively low pay that has many — about one in five — working second jobs, and some counties have an overload of unfilled positions.

This is all topped off with a computer database that is about as advanced as "Pong." The N&O described its myriad drawbacks, including searches being limited to one county at a time.