The governor called a press conference to urge the Legislature to do more when it comes to funding education.
Perdue said she sat down with Republican leadership in both the House and Senate last week to try to figure out how they could budget more money into the classroom. Perdue said she got a letter back saying that wasn't going to happen.
The budget does put some money back into k-12 education. However, because of federal dollars that are drying up next year, schools will have less money to spend than they did last year.
Perdue's solution was to raise the sales tax for two years. Republicans have been firmly against that. So Tuesday afternoon, the governor had a message for Republicans in the Legislature.
"I'm calling on them to do more for the children of North Carolina," said Perdue. "They're going to be there for a few more days. They need to keep working. They need to reach down deep and do more for the children of this state, invest more in our children's future, invest more in education."
Perdue would not say if she planned on vetoing the $20.2 billion budget proposal.
Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger and House Speaker Thom Tillis on Tuesday released a joint statement. It read, "If Gov. Perdue truly cares about the best interests of North Carolina, she will sign this budget. From students attending public schools, to drivers filling up their tanks, to Medicaid patients recovering in our hospitals, every North Carolinian benefits from this budget. A veto would show that Gov. Perdue is more interested in playing politics than in budgeting responsibly."
Perdue has until Sunday night to sign the bill into law, veto it or let it become law without her signature. She vetoed the two-year budget last year, but the Legislature overrode it.
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