Driver's ed funding remains an issue in Wake County
A popular driver's education provider in Wake County has suspended classes effective Monday while lawmakers drag their feet on a state budget.
Posted — Updated"Because the North Carolina budget for the 2015-2016 year has not been agreed upon, there is no established funding for Driver Education at this time. Until a decision is made by North Carolina legislators, no more Driver Education may be taught."
But by about 8 p.m., the statement was removed from the company's website. In a statement sent to WRAL News, the message was posted in error by a website contractor, according to Lorraine Jordan, president of Jordan Driving School.
Last summer, state lawmakers passed legislation to eliminate the $26 million that funds the program when the fiscal year ended on June 30, leaving school districts to find other means to cover program costs.
Jordan Driving School estimated that 135,000 students across the state would feel the pinch of higher fees.
After budget negotiations on Friday, Transportation budget writer Rep. John Torbett, R-Gaston, said House members had found money for driver's education elsewhere in the budget. But, he said, the Senate version of the budget proposal still would do away with it altogether.
Devin Tanner, who oversees the driver’s ed program for Wake County Public schools, said the district would have to find about $2.5 million for the 2015-2016 school year to run the program without state funds.
According to WCPSS spokeswoman Lisa Luten, a decision to suspend driver's ed has not been made. The board plans to discuss the budget on Tuesday.
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