RALEIGH (March 17, 2016) – Once again, North Carolina voters affirmed their deep support for public higher education Tuesday, approving $2 billion in Connect NC bonds by a vote of 66% to 34%.1
More than two-thirds of the bonds will build capacity at public universities and community colleges across the state in high-demand fields: Medicine. Nursing. Engineering. Sciences. Plant science. Business.2
Just two weeks into her job as President of the UNC System, Margaret Spellings told bond supporters Tuesday night that she was attracted to North Carolina because she sensed a shared vision of making our state’s public universities the best in the country.
“It is a great day for education in North Carolina,” Spellings said. “It is a thrill to experience firsthand the citizens of this state uniting around this mighty engine that is the University of North Carolina.”
With adoption of the bond bill by legislators in late September, supporters had just 5-1/2 months to put together a successful campaign – far less time than organizers had for the last bond campaign in 2000.
Despite our era of increasing polarization, they put together a coalition of disparate constituents who – while not necessarily adversaries – don’t always work together: Democrats. Republicans. Universities. Community Colleges. Agriculture. State Parks. The National Guard. The NC Zoo.
Passage of the bonds doesn’t mean all the state’s needs have been met – more than $2 billion in repair and renovation needs remain in the University system, and $1 billion in capital needs at community colleges.
But from its earliest days, North Carolina has distinguished itself from other states with its deep commitment to educating its own. State legislators need to keep that in mind as they prepare for their 2016 session in six weeks.
For now, North Carolina’s voters have reaffirmed that commitment.
We thank you.
But most of all, our students thank you.
1 http://er.ncsbe.gov/?election_dt=03/15/2016&county_id=0&office=REF&contest=0
2 http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2015/Bills/House/PDF/H943v8.pdf
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