NC Lawmakers Advance Bill That Would Raise Money For School Construction

A proposal in the legislature could give public schools in the state much needed funding for capital improvements. The North Carolina House is pushing forward legislation that would allow voters to decide whether to borrow $1.9 billion for school construction projects.

A House education committee agreed Tuesday to advance a bill that supporters say would put money in schools in all 100 counties. The move is the first step needed to get the proposed bond bill on the 2018 ballot.

The funding would assist with the costs of building new schools as well as for renovations and additions, with an emphasis on helping poor and high growth districts.

State education officials say that schools have construction and renovation needs totaling $8 billion.

The last time voters approved a statewide borrowing package for public school construction was in 1996.

Education officials say the funding is needed to make the state's school system more competitive and equitable. They also want to see increases in per pupil spending.

A new report from the National Education Association says North Carolina's per pupil funding dropped slightly from 2016 to 2017. The state currently ranks 43rd. The organization says the state spends a little more than $3,000 less per student than the national average.

But the state is making ground on teacher pay. According to the NEA, North Carolina climbed to 35th in the nation for average teacher pay. Last year, it ranked 41st.

The report says the average teacher salary in the state was $49,837 in the 2016-2017 school year. The national average is around $58,950.

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