Iredell County Passes Resolution Urging Passage of Vetoed Budget

Iredell County commissioners highlight $20 million currently on hold because of Gov. Cooper’s obstructionism

Commissioners “urge Senate to override Governor Cooper’s veto”

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

The resolution lists all of the benefits to Iredell County included in the budget and notes that, “Until such time that H966 is passed [into law], appropriations for education and programs in Iredell County will continue to be on hold to the detriment of our citizens.”

The resolution urges “the Senate to override Governor Cooper’s veto of House Bill 966.”

Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell) said, “Gov. Cooper needs to drop his Medicaid-or-nothing ultimatum instead of playing election-year games with the health and wealth of North Carolinians. Teacher raises, cash for new schools, and funds to care for those with intellectual disabilities have been on hold long enough.”

Rep. John Fraley (R-Iredell) said, “The veto of a budget, described by many to be the best budget in years, is doing irreparable harm to our education system and many other areas of state government. Further delay only makes it worse.”

The state budget that Gov. Cooper vetoed includes:

· $16.8 million in cash for K-12 school construction and renovations;

· $3.4 million for Mitchell Community College;

· $200,000 for Iredell County Agricultural Fairgrounds;

· $65,000 for Mooresville Arts;

· $4,000 for large print books for seniors at the Mooresville Public Library;

· $80,000 for Mooresville Lee State Park;

· $8,000 for Mooresville Fire Administration Water Rescue Program;

· $40,000 for an outdoor learning facility for the Iredell Future Farmers of America.

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, Gov. 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.”

Gov. 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.