NC Legislature Conference Budget Indicates Serious Cuts for K-12 Public Education

The House and Senate Education Appropriation Committee distributed a version of the Conference Budget this afternoon. Our public schools received less funding in the Conference Budget than was included for public schools in the House or the Senate passed Budgets. The Conference Budget is $33.9 million less than the Budget passed by the House for public schools. The Conference Budget is $10.2 million less than the Budget passed by the Senate for public schools.

Increased funding for bus fuel was established at $30 million ($26 million once you take into account the $4 million transportation ADM adjustment). With a possible short fall of $56 million (if diesel fuel is around $4.08 per gallon next year), this additional $26 million will leave the fuel budget short around $30 million. ABC Bonus funding was set at the House level ($70 million) which leaves this funded short of DPIs projected needs by $37 million. Combining this with other unfunded items (and reductions to the reserves), we should not expect that reversions will be able to cover the budget shortages.

With this large of a budget hole, DPI will need to hold back some of the Initial Allotments. If DPI sets the reduction at $50 million, this would convert to $33.86 per ADM (where the smallest school district would need to return $19,437 and the largest school district would need to return $4,726,304).

Please note that the Conference Budget does adjust the Continuation Budget for At-Risk ($13.5 million) which means that your Planning Allotment for At-Risk Student Services/Alternative Schools is overstated.

What does all this mean? It will end up decreasing average teacher pay by about 1% altogether.

CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS TODAY! ADVOCATE FOR OUR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS!