PROMOTING WISE CHOICES FOR SHARED PROSPERITY

On the Chopping Block
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Click on the map below to learn more about the impact of state budget cuts in your community.

Western North Carolina Charlotte region Piedmont-Triad region Research Triangle region Southeast North Carolina Eastern North Carolina Northeast North Carolina Northeast North Carolina Eastern North Carolina Southeast North Carolina Research Triangle region Western North Carolina Piedmont-Triad region Charlotte region

  • Western North Carolina region

  • Current unemployment rate: 10.1% [ ii ]
  • By 2013, projected job loss from budget cuts: 5,113 [ vi ]

  • Piedmont-Triad region

  • Current unemployment rate: 9.8% [ ii ]
  • By 2013, projected job loss from budget cuts: 7,318 [ vi ]

  • Southeast North Carolina region

  • Current unemployment rate: 10.9% [ ii ]
  • By 2013, projected job loss from budget cuts: 4,261 [ vi ]

  • Charlotte region

  • Current unemployment rate: 10.2% [ ii ]
  • By 2013, projected job loss from budget cuts: 7,979 [ vi ]

  • Eastern North Carolina region

  • Current unemployment rate: 10.1% [ ii ]
  • By 2013, projected job loss from budget cuts: 4,156 [ vi ]

  • Research Triangle region

  • Current unemployment rate: 8.3% [ ii ]
  • By 2013, projected job loss from budget cuts: 9,242 [ vi ]

  • Northeast North Carolina region

  • Current unemployment rate: 11.6% [ ii ]
  • By 2013, projected job loss from budget cuts: 1,624 [ vi ]

  • North Carolina

  • Current unemployment rate: 9.9% [ i ]
  • By 2013, projected job loss from budget cuts: 30,000 [ v ]

Budget cuts
at a glance

Education Education

Health and Human Services Health and
Human Services

Environment Environment

Justice and Public Safety Justice and
Public Safety

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Counties: Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, Yancey

  • As a direct result of state budget cuts, more than 310 K-12 teacher positions have been eliminated in Western NC, and a total of 1,658 school-related jobs have been slashed. [1]
  • NC Pre-Kindergarten programs in Western North Carolina have been forced to reduce enrollment as a result of the cuts. In rural Burke County, 93 fewer 4-years-olds will be able to receive early childhood development services in 2011-2012. [2]
  • Public universities have not been spared either. At Appalachian State University, 18 full time employees received pink slips [3], and Western Carolina University started the current school year with a $4.85 million deficit when the state cut $2.85 million from its budget and took back $2 million in leftover funds from 2010-1011. [4]
  • Professional development programs for educators have also taken a hit. The NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching, which has a campus in Cullowhee, received a 50% reduction in state funding and has been forced to cut 40 positions. As a result, its capacity to serve many of the state’s rising teachers has been significantly diminished. [5]
  • One budget provision prohibits any new environmental laws or regulations that are stronger than minimum federal standards [6]. This weakening of the state Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, combined with likely federal cuts to the National Park Service [7], mean that attractions like the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains will not be guaranteed the kind of protection and service that have elevated them to among the nation’s most treasured natural tourist destinations.

    • These cuts were not inevitable but a choice. By maintaining the temporary tax package, which included the penny sales tax and a surcharge on high-income earners, or looking at reform-minded revenue, lawmakers could have avoided many of these deep and wide-ranging cuts.


Sources:

  1. [1] Department of Public Instruction – August 31st, 2011 ↩
  2. [2] The News Herald – August 22nd, 2011 ↩
  3. [3] High Country Press – September 15th, 2011 ↩
  4. [4] Smoky Mountain News – August 24th, 2011 ↩
  5. [5] NC Policy Watch – September 28th, 2011 ↩
  6. [6] Reese News – June 27th 2011 ↩
  7. [7] Asheville Citizen-Times – November 10th, 2011 ↩

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Western NC region by the numbers

North Carolina leaders have slashed public investments at the same time that we’re struggling through the Great Recession. Below are some key data points on what’s happening around the state as a result.

A weak recovery

  • Regional unemployment rate:
    10.1% [ii]
  • N.C. jobs shortfall:*
    515,500 [iv]

(* The number of jobs we have to create to return to pre-Recession levels of employment.)

Job losses from budget cuts

  • By 2013, estimated regional jobs impact from the FY 2011-12 and FY 2012-13 state budgets:
    5,113 [vi]
    jobs will be lost.
  • Number of educator jobs lost this region:
    1,658 [vii]

Community distress [viii]

  • Highest county poverty rate in this region:
    Rutherford county at 26.4%
  • Highest child poverty rate in region:
    McDowell county at 31.7%

Sources: