RALEIGH, N.C. (CN) — North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper presented his proposed budget adjustment Wednesday, recommending investments in public education and childcare.
The North Carolina General Assembly, which began its short session Wednesday, passed a $30 million budget last year and is anticipating a $1.4 billion revenue surplus that lawmakers are hoping to allocate by passing a budget adjustment bill during the short session.
Cooper’s plan would raise teacher pay by 8.5%, increase starting wages to $47,500 and allocate funding for 700 teaching assistants for K-3 students. It would also provide over $200 million to support programs for children with disabilities, and students with limited English proficiency, and provide additional funding for school counselors and social workers.
Cooper’s recommended budget would invest over $1 billion in North Carolina public schools, and take funding from Republicans’ private school vouchers program.
The Democrat governor wants a moratorium on tax-payer funded private school vouchers, which Republicans passed September 2023. The vouchers, which have seen an incredible demand, almost tripled state funding on private education and are projected to cost public schools over $200 million.
Republican leaders are currently in political limbo over public school funding in Leandro v. State of North Carolina, a landmark North Carolina education case being decided by the U.S. Supreme Court again after nearly 30 years. Those legislators are pushing to avoid budgeting additional funding to public schools who lack the support to provide students a basic education. Instead, they have prioritized making private schools more affordable.
Cooper said that the General Assembly needs to make targeted investments in public education, and that the voucher program is taking money from public schools.
“This budget is an opportunity to build on our state’s momentum and make up ground in areas like public education, quality child care and clean drinking water, where legislators have fallen short,” he said.
Cooper’s proposal also includes $745 million for child care and early education, funding grants to keep child care centers open. It would also provide a child care tax credit to reduce the burden of child care on families.
North Carolina, which is considered a "child care desert" for infant and toddler care, is facing an extreme shortage of licensed infant-toddler programs, especially in rural areas.
On average, five families compete for each space in a licensed child care facility, according to the NC Early Education Coalition.
Many child care providers had received support through child care stabilization grants, funded by a one-time $805 million federal investment through the American Rescue Plan Act. Funding is coming to an end this year, leaving providers scrambling, and almost a third of North Carolina child care centers at risk of closure.
Cooper’s recommended budget plan suggests $200 million in child care stabilization grants, and $50 million in Pre-K and child care enhancement grants.
“I’m an early childhood provider,” said Emma Biggs, who works at Pathway Preschool Center in Charlotte. “We're losing our stabilization grant funding in childcare at the end of June.”
Biggs protested at the U.S. Supreme Court over the Leandro case in February, encouraging the judges to require lawmakers to provide funding.
“I’m sure you know about the child care cliff. That’s money that can continue my staff’s pay and keep my doors open,” said Biggs. We’re a nonprofit, and been in Charlotte for 37 years, and we’re close to closing, because we don’t have enough workers.”
Biggs said funding is crucial, and that they have struggled with maintaining staff to cover all shifts.
“Our children deserve it,” she said.
Cooper’s proposed plan also includes raises for state employees, invests in business and infrastructure growth and creates tax incentives preserving farmland and historic landscapes.
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