(The Center Square) – Appropriation of enough money to erase a waiting list of about 55,000 for school choice is expected to be voted on soon by the full North Carolina Senate.
The second-year budget adjustment is not expected to gain the signature of Gov. Roy Cooper, who has stated his opposition to the program many times over. Republicans have three-fifths majorities in each chamber to override a veto.
Known as Opportunity Scholarships, record-breaking demand and a budget surplus led to the approval from the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday.
House Bill 823 would provide $248 million to fund this year’s waiting list and $215 million for scholarships in future years.
The voucher program has been criticized in the past because available funds were unspent at the end of the fiscal year, but now the situation is the opposite, explained State Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover.
“Now we’ve got 55,000 families that are kind of on pins and needles wanting to know if their child is going to be able to attend the school of their choice come the fall,” Lee told the Appropriations Committee.