At community colleges, there is a formula that determines exactly how much each campus will get. Community college leaders at each campus are determining how best to use that money to meet their capacity needs. The demand for education and training has never been higher. Each year, one million North Carolinians including 300,000 full-time students receive training from our community colleges and public universities. As it is now, some universities are forced to turn away qualified students because of overcrowded conditions.
Community colleges have long waiting lists for many courses.
And enrollment is climbing. Only by providing that educational opportunity will North Carolina be able to attract good jobs to all regions of our state. State Treasurer Harlan Boyles says North Carolina does not need to raise state taxes to pay off the bonds. He says the bonds are a fiscally responsible way to support our community colleges and universities. Even with the bonds, North Carolina will continue to have one of the lowest debt loads in the nation.