Governor Cooper Signs 2021 Budget

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and NCGA leaders, during an Executive Mansion ceremony in Raleigh, N.C. Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Gary D. Robertson)

The first state budget since 2018 has been signed by Governor Roy Cooper. Both the House and Senate previously approved the $25.9 billion plan with bi-partisan support and input. Governor Cooper said on Tuesday that he would sign the long-overdue budget, which he called "imperfect," saying it included much-needed spending on education and infrastructure. North Carolina is the only state in the US without a budget for the current fiscal year

"[People] have also asked me if I thought this was a big win for the House and the Senate and perhaps a loss for the governor. Truly, this is a win for everyone – most importantly, the people of this state," said Rep. Jason Saine, the House's top budget writer.

Here are a few selected items from the budget impacting higher education: 

• Allocations of $18 million in 2021-22 and $36.5 million in 2022-23 for a new $160 million STEM building at NC State University.

• $6 million for a new E-Sports facility at NC State

• The budget directs the UNC Board of Governors to move the UNC System Office from Chapel Hill to Raleigh by the end of 2022 and provides $3.75 million for it to lease office space.

For an overview of how this budget further affects public colleges and universities in North Carolina, here's an article by our friends at Higher Education Works.