$1 billion in cuts is about what the governor trimmed with her 5% executive order as soon as the last budget passed in August and would keep spending about flat from the actual amount in FY2009 for another year.
The claim is no new taxes in this proposal while the governor adds whizbang handheld technology in every classroom and repays teachers and state employees for a portion of their furloughs.
Of course, once the proposal is out, it doesn’t mean much because the legislature will ignore it, but Rep. Mickey Michaux (D-Durham) has been all over the news explaining that there is not enough money and this is the right approach.
It’s about priorities and balancing the desires of Sen. Marc Basnight and Speaker Joe Hackney with the needs of taxpaying families who are also hurting in this economy.
UPDATE: Read the budget yourself or see more thoughts on CJTV, Twitter, and the LockerRoom.