State Sen. Linda Garrou (D-Forsyth) (left) listens as Winston-Salem City Councilman Derwin Montgomery speaks during a budget forum on March 17. The event was organized by Garrou and NC Reps. Earline Parmon (D-Forsyth) and Larry Womble (D-Forsyth). (photo by Keith T. Barber)
Officials from the NC General Assembly's Fiscal Research Division have confirmed that information contained in a document obtained by YES! Weekly regarding differences between Gov. Beverly Perdue’s proposed 2011-2012 budget and the targets of various Republican-controlled subcommittees in the NC General Assembly is accurate. The document was distributed by NC Reps. Earline Parmon and Larry Womble and state Sen. Linda Garrou during a March 17 budget forum in Winston-Salem.
The document indicates a reduction of $1.4 billion to the governor’s education budget by the Republican-controlled subcommittee on education; a $591 million reduction in Perdue's health and human services budget; a nearly $230 million reduction in Perdue's justice and public safety budget; a $61.7 million reduction in the governor's general government; and a $57 million reduction in the area of natural and economic resources.
State officials noted that Gov. Perdue's base budget has been significantly altered from its original version, which was released last month. Some of the adjustments include the elimination of the Clean Water Management Trust Fund. To download a copy of the governor's original budget, go to: http://www.osbm.state.nc.us/files/pdf_files/budget2011-13_web_corrected.pdf
Jordan Shaw, communications director for House Speaker Thom Tillis, emphasized the spending targets are not finalized figures.
"At this point, no decisions have been made concerning spending reductions," Shaw said in a statement. "The targets that are being referenced are simply approximate figures that our subcommittees are working toward. We are in the middle of a complex process."
Shaw added that the numbers contained in the subcommittee target reductions summary do not reflect the entire budget. Funds for information technology, capital improvements and repair and renovation funds do not appear in the summary, Shaw said.
"These are simply subcommittee targets and cannot be compared to Gov. Perdue’s entire budget proposal," he said. "In other words, it is impossible to make a direct comparison between the governor’s budget proposal and the targets we are discussing."
For the full story, visit: http://www.yesweekly.com/triad/article-11762-forsyth-budget-forum-focuses-on-potential-cuts-in-education.html>
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