community colleges. With the ConnectNC bonds, over $600 million went to the
universities, which are in sixteen counties (predominantly urban areas), and $350 million
went to the 58 community colleges and satellite campuses (predominantly rural areas).
The glaring difference being that rural counties are carrying the primary financial burden
and debt service for the significant repair and renovation costs as the community
colleges age. An infusion of money into rural counties to help with construction and repair
and renovation of community college buildings would relieve the tax burden on the more
challenged counties and help to rebuild the economy in those counties. It goes without
saying that it would also enhance the educational environment of the colleges, which are
very important to North Carolina and its future. One of our goals should be to seek
legislation to address statewide community college capital challenges--including but not
limited to maintenance, renovation, construction and debt--through a dedicated, stable
funding stream that is consistent from county to county and sufficient to meet the facility
needs of the community colleges.
·
PUBLIC EDUCATION – Support legislation to fully fund state-mandated education
programs from state revenue sources including Exceptional Children’s Services.
Legislators have been hesitant to make funding formula changes due to discussion
regarding changes in the method of funding public education in NC. Although full funding
for all programs is important, the actual decreases in the per pupil funding levels for
Exceptional Children (EC) is most impactful as the costs and requirements for these
students continue to increase and flat or decreased funding is not sustainable due to the
annual Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirements imposed by the federal government for
provision of EC services as detailed in their IEP plans. Well over half, 61%, of the
State’s school districts are subjected to the arbitrary EC funding cap (13%). Legislators
could help relieve this deficit, simply by increasing the annual per pupil funding amount, if
they are not yet prepared to lift the cap or make other major formula changes.
·
PUBLIC EDUCATION – Support legislation providing for funding to help school
systems implement school security measures via technology and staff resources,
primarily School Resource Officers (SROs). Current funding for the school systems
receive to cover a portion of
the cost of the SROs is not keeping pace with the annual salary and benefit
adjustments, which
places additional burden on the County taxpayers to cover these additional expenditures.
·
PUBLIC EDUCATION — Support full funding for public education as detailed in the
recent WestEd recommendations to resolve the Leandro court case. Support of the
Leandro funding is still a valid and important goal and does include a provision for an
increase in Exceptional Children program funding.
·
PUBLIC EDUCATION - Increase the recurring student FTE value for community
colleges to that equivalent to UNC courses that earn the same academic credit for
students. This increase will bring North Carolina community colleges to the average
percentage state funding per FTE student of our four surrounding states (Georgia, South
Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia). Students in NC community colleges are currently funded
at only 54% of UNC system freshman and sophomore students in comparable classes,
despite smaller average class sizes and faculty credentials that meet or exceed those in
the UNC System. An increase in the value of FTE would allow community colleges to
enhance and expand their programs, delivery systems, and student support systems to
better address the needs of rural NC. It would also allow community colleges to build
much needed capacity to grow and adapt, innovating to improve student success and
completion.
·
PUBLIC EDUCATION - Encourage lawmakers to build on the 5% employee salary
increases from the 2021-23 budget. An additional recurring 8%, over the next three years
brings our faculty salaries to the projected average ($56,693) of the four states
neighboring North Carolina (Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia). These
recurring increases would be applied to all employee salaries. Providing the necessary
education and services requires talent and human capital, which are proving to be the
scarcest resources for our colleges as well, especially so in the rural colleges. Colleges
are struggling to attract and retain the talent needed to satisfy this demand from students