The N&O writes, An NC budget aimed at election, not the future When it comes to math, teachers are a tough group to fool. Most will see this raise for what it is: a grudging and belated pay increase inflated by shifting benefits and dressed up as a campaign talking point. Mark Jewell, a vice president with the N.C. Association of Educators, said, “From what we’re hearing from educators across the state, they are livid about this salary proposal.” Beyond the smoke and mirrors aspects, there’s also a serious issue about how the pay increase will be sustained. The $282 million cost of the raise is supported in part by extra money from the lottery and one-time sources – reserve funds and federal grants. With the GOP’s excessive tax cuts projected to cost the state $700 million this year and a total of $5.3 billion over five years – $800 million more than originally projected – it’s not assured the state will be able to afford the raise next year, let alone increase it to lift North Carolina salaries from embarrassing to attractive... This is a budget drawn up by panicked legislators on the eve of midterm elections. That’s reflected in the rush to do something for teachers by cutting of health and welfare benefits for poor people who don’t have much of a voice in elections. The budget reduces subsidized child care for the poor and cuts Medicaid payments to hospitals. What’s most notable about this budget isn’t the teacher pay raise or its shaky revenue foundation as the costs of tax cuts rise. It’s the absolute lack of vision of a better North Carolina. This budget does not build up the state’s main engine for advancement, the University of North Carolina. It doesn’t support major new public projects or pay for ways to help the unemployed or underemployed. It has no ideas for helping the state’s weakest and most vulnerable people. What it does, Republicans hope, is pay their way past Election Day.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 15:07:04 +0000
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