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The Associated Press May 22, 2012 By Gary D. Robertson RALEIGH, N.C. Some House Republicans would like to slash by more than half theamount North Carolina public school districts will be required toreturn to the state next year, but it's unclear whether they'llhave enough money to do it, a budget-writer said Tuesday. Republican leaders for the House education budget subcommitteerolled out ideas the panel will consider as adjustments to thesecond year of the two-year budget to begin July 1. The full Housecould vote next week on its proposal to alter the entire $19.9billion state government spending plan already in place. North Carolina's 115 school districts have been asking the GeneralAssembly to eliminate a provision in the budget's second year thatwill require them to return a combined $503 million in state fundsthey receive to operate. That is a $74.1 million increase over thecurrent year. While districts have had flexibility to decide where the spendingreductions occur, superintendents and other educators say the"mandatory reversions" that began in 2009 are leavingfewer options for districts to save beyond eliminating classroompersonnel. Both House and Senate leaders have said they would like to halt theincrease. House education subcommittee leaders want to go furtherand decrease those district reductions by another $259 million toabout $170 million. The $259 million figure is designed to make up for an identicalamount of federal grant money districts used to hire more than5,400 school personnel this year but won't be available next year. Rep. Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke, said restoring a combined $333million from the mandatory reversions would attempt to essentiallyleave districts no worse off than they were this school year. But this reduction, compared with other expansion items beingtossed around by committee, would send the $7.4 billion publicschools budget more than $261 million over the current spendingtarget, according to a document handed out in the committee. Republicans are set on not raising taxes for the coming year, somore money would have to be found elsewhere to make up for thereduction. It's up to the "big chairs" — the fiveleaders of the full House Appropriations Committee — todecide whether to increase the education subcommittee's spendingavailability. "We don't know if we'll get any of it or all of it,"Blackwell said after the meeting. Finding the extra dollars, headded, "is the big hurdle we're trying to get over." Blackwell said there are other pots of unspent money the state canconsider using, including some set aside last year for merit payfor teachers and state employees and most of the estimated $230million in unanticipated revenue collections. Rep. Mickey Michaux, D-Durham, a subcommittee member, saidRepublicans are setting up unrealistic expectations about how theycan improve the education budget without raising significantadditional revenue. Michaux and other House Democrats want the entire $503 million inmandatory give-backs eliminated. Many small and rural districtsstill will face painful cuts if the $333 million in reductions goaway because they don't have as many resources as urban districts,said Rep. Rick Glazier, D-Cumberland. "We just have an uneven playing field in this state," hesaid. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Portable Battery Power Packs , Laptop Battery Refill Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit Universal DC Car Adapter today!
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