On Aug. 7, Gov. Bev Perdue approved the N.C. 2009-11 budget. The final budget totaled $19 billion and included deep cuts in order to close a $4.6 billion budget gap. Below is an overview of the cuts:
Public education
- Cut $48 million by delaying the purchase of new math textbooks for grades 6-12 in 2009-2010 and $115.4 million with a complete moratorium on new textbooks for 2010-11
- Cut $12 million each year by eliminating all 200 literary coaches in the state
- Cut $75,000 from Governor’s Schools’ budget both years (a $500 tuition fee will be added beginning in 2010-2011)
- Cut $2 million each year in funding to programs for people with limited English proficiency
- Cut $38.3 million each year in funding to assist students who perform poorly on state standardized tests
Community colleges
- Cut $14.6 million each year by eliminating state funding for dual enrollment programs (community college course offerings for high school students)
Health and human services
- Cut $12.9 million each year by eliminating 350 positions in the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services
- Cut $2.4 million by eliminating 45 positions in the Division of Public Health
- Cut $218,000 in state funding for emergency room visits for non-emergencies and will make up the difference by increasing the co-payment by $5 (from $20 to $25)
- Cut $450,000 in state funding for prescription drugs and will make up the difference by increasing co-payments