Perdue proposes new sales tax to fund education | Politics

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Gov. Bev Perdue talked about adding a new sales tax intended to fund education in North Carolina at a media event in Charlotte on Thursday.

Perdue spoke at the Microsoft Education Campus at 10:30 a.m.

She said a 3/4-penny sales tax could be added to directly fund education and keep students from lagging behind in subjects such as math, engineering and technology.

The new sales tax would only cost the average person an extra $10-15 a month, Perdue told WBTV.

In 2009, Perdue proposed a package of temporary increases that included a 1-cent sales tax hike. The legislature approved it, but the taxes expired in 2011.

When last year rolled around, though, Perdue wanted to keep the higher tax, but the Republican-controlled legislature overrode her.

Now Perdue is ready for another round.

"I will fight to my dying breath to be sure that every child has an opportunity to get a free, decent public education," she said. "It's what North Carolina is about. It's what being a Governor about, and it's actually what the General Assembly's about."

Not according to House Speaker Thom Tillis. In a statement he says, "her proposal...would make it harder for working families to purchase prepared food, clothing, medical supplies and other basic necessities to support an extreme agenda for larger government."

The topic is sure to become prime campaigning material, given this is an election year. Former Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory is shaping up to become Perdue's opponent.

WBTV talked to him on the phone Thursday.

"She said the sales tax would only be temporary." McCrory said. "In fact, she even said trust me."

Says Perdue, "The minute the economy begins to improve, and we can fund schools and colleges the way we've traditionally funded, then we'll take it off."

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