Raleigh, N.C. – The state House of Representatives voted to override a budget veto by Gov. Roy Cooper on Tuesday, delivering pay raises for teachers, law enforcement officers and most state employees, $60 million in disaster relief to victims of Hurricane Matthew, a record savings reserve, and tax relief for families and businesses in North Carolina.
“Today’s veto override delivering pay raises, disaster relief, and increased education investments is great news for the people of North Carolina who are fortunate to avoid the $470 million budget shortfall and tax hikes proposed by the governor,” said House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland).
The 2018 state budget passed by the state General Assembly:
- Provides a fifth consecutive teacher pay raise
- Invests close to $700 million additional dollars in public education.
- Provides an average 6.5 percent pay raise for teachers and a 6.9 percent increase to the principal salary schedule.
- Includes new initiatives to help keep students safe in North Carolina classrooms.
- Sets aside $241 million in lottery funding to build or upgrade school facilities.
- Directs more than $200 million toward compensation increases to state employees, including a two percent permanent pay raise for most state workers and larger increases for State Highway Patrol troopers and correctional officers.
- Delivers a $1.5 billion tax cut that will result in 99 percent of taxpayers either paying less or paying no state personal income taxes at all.
- Allocates an additional $60 million to help victims of Hurricane Matthew rebuild.
- Establishes the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology (GREAT) program to address broadband needs in the state’s rural areas.
- Includes funding to help ensure access to clean water for North Carolinians affected by GenX pollution.
- Makes key changes to economic development programs that are expected to secure thousands of new jobs and billions in new investment to the state.
- Adds $161 million to the state’s rainy day fund, which lawmakers have built to a historic high of $2 billion to ensure North Carolina is well-prepared for the next natural disaster or economic downturn.
Over 44,000 N.C. Teachers – Nearly Half – Get at Least $10,000 Raise Since 2014
Teachers Union Ranks N.C. Pay Raises 3rd Largest in the Nation Since 2013-14
N.C. Correctional Officers Receiving 4th Consecutive Salary Increase