Deductions for North Carolina educators’ group at risk

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — North Carolina Association of Educators members could lose automatic deductions of dues from their public school paychecks because the group has failed to provide membership information to the state.

The State Auditor’s Office released a report Friday about membership totals of employee associations with workers who have authorized payroll deductions. Auditors are now supposed to verify whether an association meets membership thresholds to continue deductions.

Auditor Beth Wood’s report said NCAE refused to provide membership data. The law says NCAE needs 40,000 members to qualify for the dues checkoff.

Sen. Ralph Hise of Spruce Pine was aware of the issue earlier this month and asked State Controller Linda Combs to cease deductions to organizations that don’t qualify.

NCAE spokesman Tim Crowley said the group had no comment.

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