Gaston County Passes Resolution Urging Passage of Vetoed Budget

Gaston County commissioners highlight $35.3 million currently on hold because of Gov. Cooper’s obstructionism

Other counties, sick of Cooper’s Medicaid-or-nothing ultimatum, may follow

Raleigh, N.C. — Gaston County commissioners last night voted unanimously in support of a resolution urging passage of the budget that Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed last June.

The resolution “encourages all members of the General Assembly to act in accordance with the needs of the State and support Gaston County.”

Sen. Kathy Harrington (R-Gaston), one of the Senate’s lead budget writers, said, “The people are beyond fed up with Governor Cooper’s obstructionism. Teacher pay raises, new schools, and care for children with disabilities are all on hold because of Gov. Cooper’s ridiculous ultimatum.”

The state budget that Governor Cooper vetoed includes:

· $20.4 million to Gaston County Public Schools for school construction and renovations;

· $9 million to Gaston College for school construction and renovations;

· $1 million to Holy Angels to provide services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities;

· $500,000 to the City of Belmont for Techworks to be used for scholarships and youth programming;

· and many more critical local projects.

Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the state budget hours after the legislature passed it. In private meetings, he and his staff have repeatedly told legislators that he would not sign any budget, including his own proposal, unless the legislature first passes Medicaid expansion.

In a press conference about his budget veto, Governor Cooper said, “I don’t want us to be passing the budget and just having the House pass Medicaid expansion because then you’re not going to get Medicaid expansion.”

Governor Cooper vetoed 3.9% and 4.4% raises for teachers, and he rejected a compromise proposal that included a 4.9% pay raise for teachers plus a $1,000 bonus.