Families high on Easley's list

Governor proposes $45 million for child care, services
Associated Press
May 8, 2006

Raleigh - state budget Gov. Mike Easley this week will recommend spending $45 million in the next state budget on boosting programs that assist N.C. families, the governor's office announced Sunday.

The Healthy Families proposal recommends spending $20 million on child-care subsidies for an additional 3,000 families.

Also, $10 million would go toward foster care and adoption assistance, while the Smart Start program that provides child care and health services to young children would get an additional $10 million, Easley said in a news releas

For parents who adopt, Easley will propose a tax credit of up to $5,000.

The proposal also recommends $1.8 million for counseling and other services that would help mothers and pregnant women with substance abuse problems or who are at risk of domestic violence.

The Democratic governor likely won't face much opposition to these proposals, said a Republican House member.

"The foster care and adoption funding is much-needed and long been awaited," said House Minority Whip Mitch Gillespie, R-McDowell. "I would expect that all these items would have broad support from the Republican members."

Another budget proposal Easley announced last week calls for the General Assembly to freeze the state's gasoline tax, part of what Easley called "broad-based tax relief" he will present.

Lawmakers will have about $2 billion available for new spending or tax reductions for the year starting July 1.