NC Senate proposes smaller cuts to UNC system

By Daniel Wiser
The Daily Tar Heel
May 12, 2011
As the N.C. Senate prepares its version of the state budget, UNC-system administrators are hoping legislators will provide some relief for universities that would bear the brunt of education cuts.  The Senate Appropriations on Education Committee met for the first time Tuesday to review the House’s budget — which was passed last week — and discuss alternative funding targets in efforts to close a state budget shortfall of $2.4 billion. 

The Republican leadership on the committee has set a target for roughly proportional cuts to education across-the-board, including a 12.5 percent cut of $360 million in state funding for the UNC system’s 17 institutions.  The committee’s target for funding cuts to the UNC system represents a significant decrease from the House budget, which would reduce operational and financial aid funding for universities by 17.4 percent, or $483 million....

Sen. Bob Rucho, R-Mecklenburg, a member of the committee, said senators are committed to restoring funding to some education areas, such as the UNC system, to balance the distribution of cuts.  “We’re ready to help, wherever we need to, the core functions of the government — education being one of them,” Rucho said.  Click here to read more.