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6 <br /> Whereas, public education is the cornerstone for our democracy and economic future; and <br /> Whereas, state and federal elected politicians have failed to follow constitutional and statutory <br /> mandates to fully fund public education and public school teachers and disregarded poverty <br /> among our public school children; and <br /> Whereas, inflation-adjusted per pupil spending is still below pre-recession levels; and <br /> Whereas, the national average for school funding per student is $11,841; and <br /> Whereas, in terms of per pupil spending, a National Education Agency report ranks North <br /> Carolina 46th in the United States in 2014-15, spending $8,632 per student, compared to <br /> $8,620 per student in 2013-14; and <br /> Whereas, in 2008, North Carolina teacher salaries ranked 25th in the nation but had fallen to <br /> 46th in 2014-15; and <br /> Whereas, that despite research showing cost—effectiveness of Pre-K services, the North <br /> Carolina General Assembly has cut funding and reduced the number of state-funded pre- <br /> kindergarten seats by 5,400 since 2008 resulting in continued waiting lists; and <br /> Whereas, approximately 60 percent of public education funding comes from the state, while <br /> the remainder is funded at the local level and by the federal government; and <br /> Whereas, as the state has abandoned its Constitutional obligation to fund our public schools <br /> forcing many local government leaders to shoulder more of the burden by increasing property <br /> taxes or cutting important programs or positions; <br /> Now Therefore, be it resolved that: <br /> ➢ The Orange County Board of Commissioners calls for the N.C. General Assembly to <br /> fully fund public education in Local Education Agencies to reflect growth and student <br /> needs; and <br /> ➢ The Orange County Board of Commissioners calls upon the General Assembly to <br /> reinstate K-12 enrollment growth (ADM funding) as part of the continuation budget; and <br /> ➢ The Orange County Board of Commissioners calls upon the legislators of both parties <br /> to reject the trend toward shifting education spending to counties; and <br /> ➢ The Orange County Board of Commissioners calls upon the General Assembly to raise <br /> additional state revenue in an equitable fashion in order to avoid regressive tax shifts to <br /> counties. <br /> Approved this the 5th day of May 2016. <br /> A motion was made by Commissioner Rich, seconded by Commissioner Price for the <br /> Board to approve and authorized the Chair to sign the attached resolution. <br /> VOTE: 6-0 (Commissioner Pelissier absent) <br />