NC State Board of Opticians In Jeopardy -- CEDO Inc

Time Is Running Out For NC Opticians

If you have a North Carolina optician's license, you're probably already painfully aware of the budget issues of your state board.

To recap, the NC State Board of Opticians has been operating in the red for the past 5 years, using cash reserves to meet its obligations, according to a financial audit released last December.

The report concluded that based on current income and expenses, the North Carolina State Board of Opticians will lack adequate operating funds during the 2015 state fiscal year. The lack of funding will keep the Board from meeting its statutory duties to license opticians, collect fees, investigate complaints, and take necessary disciplinary actions.

According to the report, the Board has sustained operating losses averaging $55,540 a year for the past several years.

Options discussed for continuing services include either increasing fees or consolidating operations with another licensing board to try to save money.

Many have expressed their concerns that consolidation will not save enough funds to merit the action, but actually increase the costs of the newly consolidated board proportionally to the increased responsibilities.

Click Here to read the full auditor's report

The fear is that unless changes are made, the State may have to discontinue licensing and overseeing opticians -- a tragedy for consumers and opticians alike.

The Board would like to see fees increased to fix the ailing budget, but can not do so unless mandated by the General Assembly. Fees have not been increased since 2004.

Opticians and concerned citizens are encouraged to contact their state representatives and legislators immediately --- write them, email them, call them -- it's essential to save your license and livelihood. Ask them to save your Board by mandating the necessary fee increases.