A left-leaning friend of mine commented earlier today that he, too, is scratching his head over the News & Observer report that former NC State Provost Larry Nielsen, while having resigned his position over the Mary Easley job flap, is still collecting his full $298,700 salary. As my friend pointed out, in the grand scheme of things, it’s not that much money, but it is the kind of thing fiscal conservatives rightly point to when advocates cry for more public money and tax hikes.
That thought also flashed through my head when I read Becki Gray’s post about state funding of nonprofits over in The Locker Room. While the nonprofits she profiles represent relatively small dollar amounts, they leave the gigantic — and correct — impression that the state of North Carolina has, so far, refused to prioritize needs from wants.
