Lack of NC budget leaves school construction money, other education items in limbo

RALEIGH -- Teacher pay raises aren’t the only education issue left in limbo due to the ongoing budget stalemate between the Republican-led state legislature and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper.

The $24 billion state budget vetoed by Cooper has a variety of education-related items, including new funding for school construction, paying school lunch costs for low-income students and new curriculum requirements for students. It’s unclear whether the items will be addressed when state lawmakers return in January or later next year during the short session.

Cooper said he vetoed the budget because it did not expand Medicaid and because he felt the proposed 3.9% raise for teachers wasn’t enough.

“The governor has continually refused to sit down with the legislature to work these things out,” said Rep. Craig Horn, a Union County Republican and chair of various education committees. “Honestly, this is terrible.

Read more: https://www.heraldsun.com/news/local/education/article237825789.html
(Durham Herald Sun)