Raleigh, N.C. – As the state budget sits on Governor Beverly Perdue’s desk, tax-free weekend began early this morning and will extend through Sunday night. As parents use the tax holiday as an opportunity to buy school supplies for children soon to return to school, they will find that not only will their tax burdens be heavier as we emerge from this weekend but they will be returning to classrooms with fewer resources and fewer teachers.

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) made the following statement:

“The tax-free weekend will be followed by a tax-heavy year, Governor Perdue will break her promises to refrain from raising taxes in the midst of a recession and her promises to protect our children’s classroom education.  As we emerge from the tax-free weekend and parents send their children back to school this fall, they will find not only that their taxes have been raised by more than $990 million but that their children’s classrooms have also been severely cut.  Democrats missed the opportunity to adopt a budget that would have encouraged job creation and protected students and teachers in the classroom.”