The Republican leadership in the N.C. Senate unveiled its budget proposal today in the six appropriations committees, recommending a 12.4 percent cut of $359 million in state funding for the UNC system.
Funding reductions for the system are less drastic than the House budget, which would reduce operational and financial aid funding for universities by 17.4 percent or $483 million.
The UNC system has not yet released projections for what a 12.4 percent cut would mean for universities.
The Senate’s budget proposal restores scholarship funding from the North Carolina Education Lottery for UNC-system and community college students that was eliminated in a House budget amendment. But it would reduce funding for the system’s need-based financial aid program by $37.9 million.
Universities would endure the deepest cuts under the proposal. Funding for community colleges and K-12 public schools would be reduced by 10.9 percent and 8.8 percent, respectively. Senators will propose amendments in the full appropriations committee Wednesday before the first of two required floor votes next week.
