By Jeff Hamlin
Assistant News Director

After weeks of delays, the General Assembly has finally approved a state budget.

In the midst of a difficult economic time, Orange County Representative Verla Insko says lawmakers did everything they could for the UNC system. 

UNC chancellor Holden Thorp has been bracing for cuts for months. He ordered an across-the-board 10-percent budget cut earlier this year.

The final budget puts a focus on nearly $1 billion in new taxes and forces spending cuts on local school leaders. The General Assembly gave the budget final legislative approval on party-line votes with Democrats voting yes and Republicans voting no. The Senate voted 27-18 and the House 66-52. Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue said she would reluctantly sign into law the package that includes higher taxes and reduced services.

Insko says Chancellor Thorp’s efficiency study that he delivered in July with the help of consulting firm Bain and Company to streamline operations was a major help to her office.

The budget bars cutting teachers and raises class sizes in kindergarten through third grades. Local school districts will have to decide how to cut their share of $225 million in statewide reductions in grades 4-12, either by taking money for textbooks or other pots of money, or again turning to federal stimulus funds.