The NC House unveiled its budget plan last night. While similar in total spending to the Senate plan, there are many differences between the two plans.
WRAL has a summary of the House plan here. A sample:
Overall, the House budget spends only $12 million less than the Senate did in the coming year. But it sets aside far less money for tax reform. It puts somewhat less money into education in order to plow more into the state’s Medicaid program.
And the House’s spending plan appears to contain far less policy than its Senate counterpart. The House budget bill is more than 100 pages shorter than the Senate bill.
The new fiscal year begins on July 1. Budget documents released Sunday night cover both the 2013-14 and 2014-15 budgets, although the Legislature almost never lets that second-year budget stand without adjustment.
In general:
- The House spends less than than Senate on education: $13 million community college; $66 million more on K-12, $53 million less on university system in 2013-14.
- The House spends $36 million more than the Senate in the Health and Human Services budget area, apparently responding to increasing shortfalls in Medicaid.
- The House spends $24 million more on than the Senate on Justice and Public Safety programs.
The House budget gives state workers five vacation days, but doesn’t offer any raises. However, it does put back a salary supplement for teachers with advanced degrees that the Senate had stripped away.
Be sure to check back on www.nccivitas.org soon for a more thorough rundown of the House budget proposal.
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