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For Release: Immediate
Date: October 26, 2001 |
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Capt. Robert Carver Phone:(919) 664-6244
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For Release: Immediate
Date: October 26, 2001 |
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Capt. Robert Carver Phone:(919) 664-6244
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EASLEY ANNOUNCES PLAN TO FUND NATIONAL GUARD TUITION ASSISTANCE
RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley today announced the North Carolina National Guard will fully fund college tuition assistance benefits to Guard members.
“Expanding educational opportunities for all North Carolinians is a priority,” said Gov. Easley. “I know that many people join the Guard to take advantage of the educational benefits that serving offers. These men and women are working to protect our country and they deserve these educational benefits. I am very pleased that we have been able to find the money to fund these applications.”
By deferring several non-emergency facility maintenance projects this year, the Guard is able to shift $152,000 to fund the college tuition assistance program. The shift will allow the Guard to fund tuition assistance requests for 141 members whose applications were pending and likely would have gone unapproved due to funding cuts in the program brought on by the state’s current budget crisis. The funding shortfall was the first in the program’s history.
Due to the state’s financial situation, the tuition assistance program received only $937,000 in operating funds in this year’s state budget; some $250,000 less than originally expected.
“We knew we would have a shortfall of some amount this year,” said Bryan Beatty, CCPS secretary. “We didn’t know just how much until the state’s budget was finalized at the end of last month. Since then, the department and the Guard have been working together to find ways to fund the pending applications.”
Tuition assistance benefits are not guaranteed to members but are provided as long as funding is available.
To date, the program has funded 1,065 tuition assistance applications with this year’s original appropriation. Funding the 141 outstanding applications will cost slightly more than $137,000. The additional $15,000 will fund applications yet to be received. Last year, the program funded 1,455 tuition assistance requests.
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