Easley budget preview
All indications are that Gov. Mike Easley will introduce his budget early next week, probably Monday. He gave folks a preview today by way of a news release. He focused on $31 million in additional spending for "those who often are overlooked by society but are the most in need."
Among the items:
- * $10.4 million to match federal child health insurance funding to serve an additional 10,683 children in need.
- * $9 million in federal block grant dollars to take 1,110 children off child care waiting lists.
- * $8.3 million to increase foster care and adoption payments to encourage quality care for more children.