Governors’ Proposals
NORTH CAROLINA
Governor: James G. Martin (R)
FY 1991 proposed state budget: $7.54 billion
FY 1991 proposed K-12 budget: $3.48 billion
FY 1990 K-12 budget: $3.13 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +11.2 percent
Highlights:
Governor seeking $180 million to fully fund the state’s Basic Education Program, which helps districts hire more teachers, reduce class sizes, increase course offerings, and purchase supplies.
Proposing $39.5 million to give each of the state’s 134 school systems a 2 percent increase over their payroll costs, to pay for differentiated-pay systems developed under the state’s School Improvement and Accountability Act.
Also requesting $3.7 million to continue providing services to handicapped children ages 3 to 5; $248,000 to match a grant from a private company for a dropout-prevention program; and $5.6 million for a drug-education program.
Final Action
ALASKA
Governor: Steve Cowper (D)
FY 1991 state budget: $2.88 billion
FY 1991 K-12 budget: $694.4 million
FY 1990 K-12 budget: $629.3 million
Percent change K-12 budget: +10.3 percent
Highlights:
Governor’s proposal to create separate endowment for education from oil revenue in the state’s Permanent Fund died when Senate declined to send proposed constitutional amendment to voters.
Legislature approved bill giving teachers the right to strike, but requiring that teachers and school boards engage in nonbinding arbitration before strike could be called.
NEW YORK
Governor: Mario M. Cuomo (D)
FY 1991 state budget: $29.8 billion
FY 1991 K-12 budget: $9.24 billion
FY 1990 K-12 budget: $8.5 billion
Percent change K-12 budget: +8.7 percent
Highlights:
Lawmakers approved $740-million increase in state aid for schools, largest in Governor’s eight-year tenure.
Increase in education funding includes more than $340 million shifted from state funds for teachers’ retirement system.
Budget also includes $1.4-billion tax hike.
VERMONT
Governor: Madeleine M. Kunin (D)
FY 1991 state budget: $623.6 million
FY 1991 K-12 budget: $199.8 million
FY 1990 K-12 budget: $181.9 million
Percent change K-12 budget: +9.8 percent
Highlights:
Legislature did not approve proposals to revise state tax formula to provide property-tax relief.
Altered state funding formula for special education to allocate some funds according to total number of students, not just number of special-education students.
Revised school-residency laws to take into account homeless, migrants, other special cases.
Endorsed state board of education’s list of goals, including restructuring and increased community involvement.
