Here's why writing North Carolina's budget is a little bit like that carnival game, Whack a Mole: just when you think you've solved one crisis, another pops up.
Last week, a last minute floor amendment to the House budget changed how the lottery funding would be divvied up. The amendment would eliminate the category called "Scholarships for Needy Students," worth $34.6 million, and move that money to public school construction.
But that scholarship category includes half of all state financial aid for community college students, said Scott Ralls, president of the community college system. "It creates a huge challenge for us because so much of our need-based financial aid has come through this source," he said.
And, Ralls said, if the amendment moves forward, "then community college students specifically would have zero access to the scholarships that come through the lottery program."
Another lottery scholarship category specifically for UNC system students would remain, but would be reduced.
The amendment, introduced by Rep. Tim Moore, a Kings Mountain Republican, passed by a large margin.
Community college tuition is considered a bargain in this state, Moore pointed out, and students can find other sources of financial aid. But counties face a dire situation, he said; some won't be able to make debt payments on school buildings because of budget cuts.
"The impact would be more severe on the counties, frankly, in terms of their debt service obligations and ultimately in terms of school construction, if we don't protect that," Moore said.
So, in the ongoing Whack a Mole game, Moore said he hopes lawmakers can restore some of the scholarship money for college students while helping counties.
"I tell you," he said, "it's just a matter of just bad choices this year all the way around."
Comments
Holy Cow, I wish this much
May 11, 2011 - 4:48am — NonanonymousHoly Cow, I wish this much attention was being paid to the budget when it was being doubled in the ten years leading up to 2008. As I stated during last years budget crisis, it doesn't matter what budget is passed, tax revenues will likely fall short, and even more spending cuts are going to have to be made.
Gov Dumpling is going to be hard pressed to get her education agenda in there without offering up offsets in spending somewhere else. Can't raise taxes and can't blame it on the Republicans. We're in the worst economy in seventy years, and I would advise the state to start planning for further cuts.
As energy and food prices continue to climb and stimulus spending trickles upward, wages remain flat, and it's highly likely the wheels come off the economy before 2012 elections. Barry Goldwater said that federal pensions and interest on the national debt will freeze federal spending by 2020, and we may arrive at that destination sooner than anyone realizes when federal deficit spending collides with a sell off in US treasuries.
A federal balanced budget amendment is what is needed now, as well as tax reform for both individuals and corporations to counter accumulation of wealth in the top 1% of US households, who aren't paying their fair share. Federal pensions will continue to garner their automatic COLA, while everyone else except the the wealthy suffer, and the poor suffer the most. No, Progressive Pulse, that doesn't mean spend more :), it means balance the federal budget, and reform tax policy. It will take an act of God to accomplish, and God help us all.
Collect the debt
May 10, 2011 - 7:08am — bestsarah"The amendment would eliminate the category called "Scholarships for Needy Students" worth 34.6 million............:
I think the debt owed by the GTP to the Escheat Fund is more than this $34.6 million. And Escheat Funds are to be used to help needy students in the UNC system. So collect the loan made to the GTP and fill this hole. Or does the new legistalure also consider the GTP a sacred cow?