HAMLET — More than $20 million will be coming to Richmond County for education if Gov. Roy Cooper gets his way.
Cooper’s budget, introduced Wednesday, includes spending $14.46 billion for all education programs, the Carolina Journal reports. That number is for K-12 and higher education and would make up for 57.75 percent of the state’s budget.
The two-year spending plan would increase teacher pay by 9.1 percent allow voters to decide whether to invest in a statewide bond for new school construction and renovation.
Richmond County Schools stands to receive $18,405,869 — the most of the three counties in Rep. Ken Goodman’s district. The proposal also calls for sending $12,976,867
to Montgomery County Schools, and $17,463,902 to Stanly County Schools.
Likewise, Richmond Community College would receive the most — $4,491,480 — of the three community colleges in the district.
Wylie Bell, director of marketing and communications for RichmondCC, said there is no breakdown yet for how the money would be used.
“Governor Cooper’s budget invests in our community and ensures that our schools and economy succeed in every corner of the state,” Goodman said in a statement.
The numbers could change as the budget makes its way through the state Senate and House of Representatives then back to the governor.
“As the budget process moves forward,” Goodman said, “I appreciate Governor Cooper’s leadership to provide opportunity to every student in North Carolina and his effort to help us grow local jobs in Richmond, Montgomery, and Stanly counties.”
