When the North Carolina House Budget proposal was originally released, many lawmakers claimed the “draconian” and “painful” cuts were unavoidable without tax increases.
Among the proposed cuts were teacher positions, care for the elderly and developmentally disabled. A closer examination of budgetary items not on the chopping block calls the House leadership’s priorities and motives into question.
House budget writers insist that it is their deep concern about “restoring” funding for education and those in need motivating their massive job-killing tax increase. But if they are indeed so concerned about such programs, why were they so quick to cut teachers and aid to those in need in their budget proposal, but left substantial funding for much more questionable items intact?
Following is a list of funding for programs that House budget writers chose not to subject to cuts. A cursory review of this untouched funding prompts the question: Does House leadership really thinks these items are more important to fund than teacher and disabled children, or was there some political gamesmanship involved in their original budget plan?
MORE IMPORTANT THAN TEACHERS AND DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED CHILDREN?
A List of Funding Not Cut in Original House Budget Proposal
| Item |
Amount Not Cut |
Item |
Amount Not Cut |
|
K-12 |
|
Community Colleges |
|
|
Learn & Earn High Schools. created in 2005, allows HS students to take college courses for credit for free |
$18.8 M |
NC Research Center at Kannapolis. See explanation under UNC system entry |
$3.3 M |
|
Public School Forum (nonprofit) |
$2.1 M |
General Government |
|
|
Communities in Schools (nonprofit) |
$1.4 M |
Historically Underutilized Business |
$992 K |
|
Teacher Cadet (nonprofit) |
$360 K |
Graveyard of the Atlantic |
$300 K |
|
Science Olympiad (nonprofit) |
$128 K |
Human Relations Commission |
$615 K |
|
Teach for America (nonprofit) |
$900 K |
Youth Involvement Office |
$872 K |
|
UNC System |
|
Commission on Indian affairs |
$481 K |
|
Public TV |
$13.1 M |
State Historic Sites |
$7.1 M |
|
Kannapolis Research Center. Created in 2006 as public/private partnership, public funding has far exceeded original promises |
$19.5 M |
Statewide program & Grants. Funding for local cultural activities |
$29.6 M |
|
Strategic Initiative Reserve. UNC president’s slush fund, discretionary money without clear purpose |
$2.3 M |
NC Maritime Museum |
$885 K |
|
Botanical Garden at UNC-CH |
$1.2 M |
Historic Preservation |
$991 K |
|
Arboretum at UNC-Asheville |
$207 K |
Museum of Art |
$4.4 M |
|
2+2 Elearning Initiative. Created in 2005 to develop online college coursework |
$750 K |
NC Arts Council |
$8.6 M |
|
Appalachian Regional Development Institute at ASU |
$208 K |
NC Symphony |
$2.3 M |
|
Center for Faculty Excellence at ECU |
$350 K |
Tryon Palace |
$2.1 M |
|
Center for Sustainable Tourism at ECU |
$300 K |
Museum of History |
$6 M |
|
Office of Engagement, Innovation and Economic Development at ECU |
$1.1 M |
Natural and Economic Resources |
|
|
Institute for Emerging Issues at NCSU |
$505 K |
|
|
|
Center for Family and Community Engagement at NCSU |
$184 K |
NC Biotechnology Center. A state funded nonprofit "dedicated to developing the biotechnology industry |
$18.2 M |
|
Center for High Performance Simulation at NCSU |
$157 K |
Grassroots science museum |
$3.2 M |
|
Center for Urban Affairs & Community Services at NCSU |
$146 K |
Rural Economic Development Center |
$4.4 M |
|
Furniture Manufacturing & Management Center at NCSU |
$492 K |
Oyster Reef Program |
$1 M |
|
Nonwovens Institute and Research Center at NCSU |
$306 K |
Oyster Sanctuary Program |
$2 M |
|
The Ergonomics Center at NCSU |
$563 K |
Land loss prevention |
$745 K |
|
Ackland Art Museum at UNC-CH |
$706 K |
E-Nc Authority (subsidized internet) |
$460 K |
|
American Indian Center at UNC-CH |
$142 K |
DENR: special zoo fund, grassroots initiative, adopt-a-trail |
$4.7 M |
|
Carolina Center for Public Service at UNC-CH |
$338 K |
Tourism, Film & Sport Development |
$10 M |
|
Carolina Population Center at UNC-CH |
$484 K |
Local planning & management |
$2.8 M |
|
Center for European Studies at UNC-CH |
$395 K |
Public Affairs |
$434 K |
|
Center for Slavic, Eurasian, and East European Studies at UNC-CH |
$108 K |
Commercial Feed & Pet Analysis |
$712 K |
|
Injury Prevention Research Center at UNC-CH |
$121 K |
Commercial Fertilizer Analysis |
$856 K |
|
Center for Community Safety at WCU |
$96 K |
Pesticide Control Analysis |
$1.5 M |
|
Maya Angelou Institute at WSSU |
$126 K |
Veterinary Services |
$10 M |
|
Center for Design Innovation at WSSU |
$400 K |
Plant Protection |
$3.4 M |
|
|
|
Aquariums |
$7.9 M |
|
Commerce |
|
Museum of Natural Science |
$7.7 M |
|
One NC Fund – corporate welfare money, availability as of Dec. 31, 08 |
$18 M |
Shellfish Sanitation |
$1.7 M |
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