The NC Senate has released their budget recommendations for the 2019-2021 biennium. The proposal comes after the Governor released spending priorities in March and the House released their proposal in early May.
Highlights include:
- The Senate proposed increases in the NC Pre-K reimbursement rate, child care subsidy funds, Smart Start funding, and teacher, principal, and other school staff salaries.
- Across the board, the proposed investments in early childhood are smaller than those proposed by the Governor and by the House.
- The exception is a proposed increase in foster care rates, which was not proposed by the House.
- The Senate followed the House’s lead in deciding not to dedicate resources to closing the health insurance coverage gap, as recommended by the Governor.
The Senate and House will form a Conference Committee to hammer out a compromise budget proposal in the next weeks.