South By North Strategies, Ltd.

In the first article in a series, The News & Observer reports on how the fee increases proposed by the N.C. House of Representatives would impact North Carolinians.

The state House of Representatives wants North Carolinians to pay government agencies an extra $160 million next year in new or higher ferry tolls, court costs, tuition charges and other fees for public services.
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Some taxes, including a temporary 1-cent sales tax, would be cut in a $19.3 billion budget that cleared the House and moved to the Senate last week. But to help balance the books, millions of North Carolinians would pay more in what Republican legislative leaders like to call user fees.
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If the Senate and Gov. Bev Perdue agree, high school students will pay up to $75 for driver education classes that are now free.
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Criminal defendants will pay up to $70 more in court fees, and see the $5 fee for each night they spend in county jails doubled. Community college classes will cost more, and so will a variety of state license and inspection fees.
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Commuters who travel to work each day on two busy river ferries, now toll-free, will have to pay tolls or buy passes that could cost up to $100 a month.