Tuesday numbers: A look at some key differences in the budget proposals of Gov. Cooper and legislative leaders

[Editor’s note: Republican state legislative leaders are expected to push through their version of a 2019 state budget this week without entertaining any amendments from lawmakers who might wish advance an alternative vision for state policy. In the interest of providing our readers with some grounds for comparison, the following summarizes some of the key differences between what Gov. Cooper has proposed and what GOP leaders are expected to pass in some high profile areas of state policy.]

$130 million – the amount Gov. Roy Cooper  has proposed to improve school safety in his budget in response to recent school shootings

$35 million – the amount Republicans legislative leaders have proposed for the same purpose

$30 million – $90 million – the amount Republicans say could be added to the school safety dollars if they seek federal funds through Medicaid

$40 million – the amount recommended in Gov. Cooper’s proposed budget for flexible funding allowing schools to hire school nurses, counselors, psychologists and additional personnel to support students and youth mental health

$10 million – the amount included within the GOP’s proposed $35 million allocation for for one-time grants allowing schools to bring in additional mental health personnel

$65 million – the amount Gov. Roy Cooper’s budget would reserve for building improvements related to safety and security at K-12 public schools, state universities and community colleges (the funds can be used for communication system upgrades, equipment purchases, audio-visual security monitoring systems, panic alarms, improved doors, etc.)

$3 million – the amount legislative Republicans have proposed in their budget for camera systems, doors and other security upgrades to North Carolina’s schools

$5 million – the amount legislative Republicans have proposed in their budget for a mobile app that will allows students to anonymously report potential threats

8 percent – the amount average teacher pay would increase under Gov. Roy Cooper’s proposed budget next year

6.5 percent – the amount on average teachers would receive under the Republicans’ proposed budget next year

2 percent – the amount Governor Cooper proposes raising the pay of state employees in his budget or $1,250 (whichever is larger)

$1,000 – Additional pay supplement Gov. Cooper provide to law enforcement officers and prison employees

2 percent – the amount Republican budget writers have set aside for state employees

$31,200 – Annual salary floor Republicans would set in place for state’s lowest compensated, full-time workers

4 – the numbers of days remaining before House and Senate leaders hope to take a final vote on their budget bill (Senate Bill 99)

0 – the number of amendments Republican lawmakers will allow Democratic lawmakers to make to the budget bill