North Carolina ranks near the bottom for teacher pay. Gov. Josh Stein’s new budget proposal aims to change that.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ ov. Josh Stein unveiled his recommended state budget Tuesday as North Carolina lawmakers returned to the General Assembly, calling for major investments in teacher pay, public safety and tax relief for families.
The proposal would raise starting teacher salaries to the highest in the Southeast, restore master’s pay for veteran teachers and significantly raise pay across the board. North Carolina currently ranks last among its neighboring states in starting teacher pay and second-to-last in the nation in per-pupil spending, according to Stein’s office.ย
“Our children are our future, and investing in them and the educators that help them learn will pay off for generations to come,” Stein said.
The budget also includes nearly $380 million in tax relief for working families and increases personal income tax deductions. Stein said he wants to preserve current individual and corporate income tax rates to protect state revenue.
On public safety and health, the plan calls for more than $970 million in spending, including a 5% pay raise for all law enforcement officers, correctional officers, nurses and health technicians. It also would fully fund Medicaid, which covers more than 3 million North Carolinians.
“Everyone deserves to live in safety, to go about their daily lives without fear,” Stein said.
The governor’s proposal also includes more than $448 million for workforce development, including free community college tuition for students pursuing short-term credentials in high-demand fields. The budget now goes to the Republican-controlled General Assembly for consideration.
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