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RALEIGH (AP) - Gov. Beverly Perdue won a bipartisan standing ovation in her first State of the State address when she pledged that even in tough times the state "will increase per-pupil spending in our public schools."

Still, the new governor's statement in Monday night's televised address surprised many legislators who questioned how she would make such a move when state government faces a projected $3.6 billion spending gap entering next year. More taxes or deeper cuts in other agencies could be her answer, lawmakers suggested Tuesday.

"I think she needs to tell us how she's going to do it," said Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham. "It certainly is a real good sound bite."

Her office declined to discuss Tuesday how she intended to meet the goal, holding off details until her two-year budget proposal is released March 17.

But fulfilling the pledge may not be as difficult as it sounds.

A combination of federal stimulus funds, a one-year quirk in the state kindergarten cutoff date and ongoing spending reductions could help make such a pronouncement doable. Success could give Perdue a political point early in her administration.

"It clearly is a bold statement to make in these economic times that shows her commitment to continue investing in public education," said Brad Crone, a Democratic consultant in Raleigh whose previous clients include Perdue, though not during her gubernatorial campaign.

"The question the legislators and the policy makers have to answer is 'Is it a shell game?'"

North Carolina spent $12 billion in federal, state and local funds, or $8,522 per pupil during the 2007-08 school year, according to the most recent Department of Public instruction data.

The state portion of the per-pupil spending was $5,616 last year. It actually declined during the state budget shortfalls in 2002 and 2003.

Perdue, a Democrat, said Monday that she and legislators would have to make "hard, painful decisions" on the budget.

"'Cutting the fat' is a cliche that does not go far enough," Perdue told legislators.

Perdue already has ordered some departments to cut 9 percent from their current budgets to close this year's $2.2 billion shortfall by June 30. But she's told K-12 education to trim about $160 million, or only 2 percent of its nearly $8 billion state budget.

The governor has the benefit of getting help from Washington through North Carolina's $6.1 billion share of the federal stimulus package to pay for education programs.

Perdue's office and legislative fiscal analysts have said the state could receive at least $1.4 billion for the public schools and higher education over a two-year period to help narrow the state's budget gaps. The money could help Perdue restore potential cuts or expand existing funding for the public schools.

"It's encouraging," said John Dornan, executive director of Public School Forum of North Carolina, a business-education advocacy group.

"If education is largely held harmless or only minor cuts are made, there will be an increase in per-pupil spending."

Perdue also will benefit from a 2007 state law that pushes back the cutoff birth date for children to enter kindergarten starting next fall.

The shift means a child now must turn 5 years old before Aug. 31 to enter school. The cutoff date has been Oct. 16.

The change means North Carolina is projected to have a rare enrollment decline in the public schools of about 11,700 students compared to this year, according to a legislative staff analysis.

With fewer students, per-pupil spending would increase if overall spending levels remain about the same next year as this year.

Perdue was silent Monday night about whether she would propose tax increases. Dornan said Perdue will be hard pressed not to so there will be enough money to keep her promise and balance the budget, as required by the state constitution.

The General Assembly has to pass its own state budget, which it will do after receiving Perdue's spending proposal. Some lawmakers were withholding judgment on Perdue's pledge and whether they wanted to go along.

"It's inspiring to have the executive of the state to continue to put education at the forefront of what we do," said Rep. Ty Harrell, D-Wake, but "we always need to ask the question as to how do we pay for it."