The North Carolina General Assembly convened for legislative business Wednesday, May 14. During the 2014 Short Session, legislators will review and make any necessary adjustments to the second year of the 2013-15 biennium budget, as well as address any outstanding business from the prior year.

Last week Governor Pat McCrory also released his 2014-15 budget recommendation (UNC System begins on page 41), which represents the initial step in the state budget process. The Senate and House chambers are expected to follow shortly with their budget development and negotiation process, with a target deadline for sending the final budget recommendation to the Governor prior to the July 1 start of the next fiscal year.

Click here to download a high-level summary from UNC General Administration of budget recommendations pertaining to the University. 

UNC President Tom Ross issued the following statement on Governor Pat McCrory’s proposed 2014-15 state budget:

We appreciate Governor McCrory’s commitment to provide pay raises for all state workers, including University faculty and employees.  We also are grateful that he recognizes the importance of extending in-state tuition rates to our military-affiliated students, and his scholarship proposal for certain student veterans offers a starting point for discussion.

North Carolina has a long history of strong support for the University of North Carolina. This budget proposal, however, calls for further reductions to the University’s budget.  In the context of a growing economy where other states are re-investing in their public universities, this is an issue of competitiveness. To improve North Carolina’s economic position, attract new industry, and create needed new jobs, North Carolina must continue to maintain its strong public university system.  We owe our students a high-quality education, and there is no great university without great faculty. This budget would make it increasingly hard for UNC campuses to recruit and retain the best and most accomplished faculty, as well as staff.

The State now spends nearly $1,000 less per full-time-equivalent student than it did in 2007-08. While the University is operating more efficiently and has become more accountable, we have been forced to raise tuition in order to maintain the excellence for which we are known.  While we will continue to search for additional efficiencies and savings, we cannot continue to shift the costs of higher education from the State to students and their families.

The University of North Carolina has long been key to our State’s economic growth and way of life.  The quality of this great asset must be preserved for future generations.  We are committed to working with the Governor and the General Assembly throughout the budget process to meet state needs and address key University priorities.