Real Taxpayer Subsidy

Yesterday the House overwhelmingly approved House Bill 205, sponsored by Rep. George Cleveland and me, which repeals a budget provision slipped into the 2005 budget that would have given a taxpayer subsidy to the booster clubs affiliated with the UNC schools. The provision gave out-of-state students on an athletic scholarship in-state tuition, which counted them as in-state students for admission purposes as well. It was expected to cost the taxpayers $8 million in 2008-2009, and $12 million in 2009-2010. The House retained the provision for in-state tuition for academic scholarships which and largely benefits UNC and NCSU.