Our local elected officials get plenty of criticism for their budget work, but at least they always pass their budgets on time. That’s because state law, as well as common sense, dictates that cities, counties and school systems have an annual spending plan in place before the July 1 start of the fiscal year. No such luck with the General Assembly, which today is likely to pass its third continuing resolution to keep the state government running because the House and Senate can’t resolve their budget differences. According to The News & Observer, the main obstacle is whether UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State should be allowed to set their own tuition rates. Unfortunately, with no state budget in place less than a week before teachers report for work, Vance County Schools and other public school systems don’t know how much money they’ll have to spend this year, and that reduces the likelihood of preparing our children to reach the state’s elite universities.