NC education agency previews potential budget cuts

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — North Carolina’s education agency warns that additional budget cuts for next year could mean 5,300 fewer teaching positions and larger class sizes.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Saturday the Department of Public Instruction released its estimate of the impact five percent and ten percent budget cuts would have on the agency’s operations.

Gov. Bev Perdue’s budget office had asked for the estimates as the state prepares for a potential $3.5 billion budget deficit for fiscal year 2011-12. Other agencies were asked to come up with 15 percent cuts. Public education accounts for about 40 percent of the state budget.

The state is in the earliest stages of the budgeting process and many things likely will change before lawmakers sign off on a final spending plan this summer.

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Information from: The News & Observer, http://www.newsobserver.com

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