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RALEIGH, NC (WECT/AP) - Nearly a dozen mayors from Southeastern North Carolina have signed their name in approval of Governor Bev Perdue's plan to raise the state sales tax to restore education funding.
Perdue recently announced that her next budget proposal would include a hike in the sales tax by three-quarters of a penny to reverse cuts to education made by the General Assembly. Republican leaders said the move would kill jobs and stop the state's economic recovery.
Mayors Bill Saffo of Wilmington, David Cignotti of Wrightsville Beach, Terry Mann of Whiteville and Zander Guy of Surf City are among the 53 leaders who signed the open letter that asks North Carolina's citizens to support Perdue's plan.
"The legislature's budget has hurt education at all levels – from pre-k all the way through higher education – and has led to higher class sizes and the loss of teacher and teaching assistant positions right here in our local schools," the letter says. "With their budget forcing even more teacher layoffs next year, we must act to prevent these additional cuts."
[Read the entire letter (PDF)]
GOP leaders Rep. Thom Tillis and Sen. Phil Berger challenged Perdue to an open debate about her proposal. "This has been the most hotly-contested policy battle of the past two years," Berger said Tuesday in a statement. "I think North Carolinians would benefit greatly from an open and frank debate between leaders of the legislative and executive branches of government."
Perdue declined the offer, calling it "a cheap stunt" and "campaign theatrics."
Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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