Schools win in Easley budget

By Gary D. Robertson, The Associated Press
May 10, 2006

Raleigh (AP) - Gov. Mike Easley rolled out an $18.9 billion budget proposal Tuesday for the next fiscal year that tilts heavily toward education as he tries to keep a pledge to raise teacher salaries above the national average.

The education package also would add middle school literacy coaches, expand specialty high schools, spend more in the state’s poorest school districts and pay for expected enrollment increases for public schools, community colleges and the UNC system.

“I think we can say without question that this is the strongest education budget ever seen in the history of North Carolina,” Easley said in unveiling the plan made possible by a huge revenue surplus and the new state lottery. “We’ve been able to make these investments because of our fiscal discipline, because of the way we have held in the reins on spending.”

Easley’s budget would raise teacher pay on average by 8 percent, or $323 million, as part of a previously announced effort to raise them above the national average by 2008.

Teachers could use a boost in pay, but the goal should be higher than beating the national average, said Asheville High biology teacher William Sanderson.

“For a state of our size, population and our history to still be middling in teacher salary is kind of a shame,” said Sanderson, teacher of 20 years.

The extra $2 billion lawmakers can use this year includes a nearly $1.1 billion revenue surplus projected for the year ending June 30, the largest as a percentage of the overall budget in more than 30 years.

Staff Writer Joel Burgess contributed to this article.