Senate, House differ on state budget details

The UNC system would get more money to cover growing enrollment and would be spared an across-the-board $18 million cut. Gov. Mike Easley's More at Four pre-kindergarten program would be expanded for another 6,345 kids, and $1 million intended to help sheriffs enforce federal immigration law would be cut in half.

Those are some of the differences Senate budget writers made from the House version in their state spending plan for the coming fiscal year. On Monday, Senate budget writers began releasing parts of their version.

The full budget bill is expected to be released today.

OTHER DIFFERENCES INCLUDE

* A $36 million cut from the mental health service called community support. The House cut $65 million.

* For some health programs the House funded, the Senate uses money from the Health and Wellness Trust fund, a pool of money that comes to the state from the national tobacco settlement with cigarette companies.

* Two additional toll road projects in future years: $15 million a year to help start the Mid-Currituck Bridge in Currituck County and $35 million a year for the Garden Parkway in Gaston and Mecklenburg counties.

* $11 million to cover rising diesel fuel costs for school buses, far less than the $45 million increase the House proposed.

* $8 million for dropout prevention grants, compared to the $15 million the House included.

* The Senate proposes to pay doctors and hospitals less than the House for treating Medicaid patients.

* The Senate reduces the money available for children enrolled in Health Choice, a health insurance program for children whose families make too much money to qualify for Medicaid. The House added $10.4 million to the program, enough to add more than 10,600 children. The Senate proposal would freeze enrollment until April 2009 and would provide $1.7 million to start adding children then, if the federal government renews the program. The Senate would take $7 million out of another children's health insurance program that has not yet started.

"It's cruel to children." said Sorien K. Schmidt, senior vice president for Action for Children N.C.

"It's also politically shocking. It's a full reversal of the strong stance they've taken historically to provide health insurance to children and disabled people."

TAX CUTS

Both chambers have agreed to a package of tax cuts worth $50 million, but they differ in where to offer that relief.

The House included tax breaks for lower-income working families and for businesses that provide health insurance for their employees. The Senate package may include a repeal of the gift tax and a reduction on taxes paid for home heating fuels.

WHAT'S NEXT

Senate leaders expect to vote out a budget proposal this week. House and Senate budget writers, with input from Easley, will then negotiate a compromise.