Representative Tine Votes Against Budget | Eastern NC Now

News Release:

    Raleigh     Rep. Paul Tine issued the following statement today:

    This week, I voted against the House version of the budget. This was a very difficult decision but it came down to one primary issue, the future of our rural communities. I am very proud of the work with the other side of the aisle to restore some of the damage done by the Senate. We were able to keep the ferry tolls from increasing or being added. We restored the NC Academy of Teachers in Ocracoke, delayed severe cuts to small county schools, delayed the elimination of the regional economic development authorities, and got a little funding for some cultural resources in the region.

    Unfortunately, there were some key issues that I could not vote for. One major issue is that the budget developed a new program that would allow vouchers. I ran on reform and our schools need to be modernized. But instead of finding what is working well inside of our system and expanding on it, this budget abdicates our authority to private schools. This program will remove funds from the system to provide choice in urban communities leaving our rural communities further behind.

    Other issues include the elimination for the funding of the Currituck Bridge, a new formula for transportation that robs our district of $266 million over 5 years, cutting of funding to our rural hospitals, and a reduction of support for our Community Colleges. Furthermore, the delays we accomplished only put off the significant cuts to our region.

    In the end, I voted against the budget because the overall effects to our rural communities both short and long term. Access in rural communities and in the northeast to transportation funding, health care, and education took hits in this budget that I could not vote for.


Office of Representative Paul Tine

District 6- Beaufort, Dare Hyde, Washington Counties
(919) 733-5906

Contact: Paul Tine (252) 305-5133    paul.tine@ncleg.net