CHARLOTTE, N.C. — State lawmakers released a long-overdue state budget proposal Monday, promising massive infrastructure investments, raises for state employees and an income tax cut.
Votes are scheduled for this week, formally sending the two-year spending plan to Gov. Roy Cooper, who can let it become law or further extend a fight that submarined the past two full budget plans, delaying projects and raises across state government.
The bill includes 2.5% annual salary increases for state employees and teachers, plus multi-tiered bonuses giving most employees another $1,500 and teachers up to another $2,800.
North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore talked with WCNC Charlotte about what this budget will mean for the state.
“This budget represents months of hard work and good-faith negotiations between Republicans and Democrats, House and Senate, and our Governor. Although we have many differences, we each had the common goal of coming together to create a spending plan for the state, one of the General Assembly’s most important constitutional obligations. In the end, I am confident that we have come together to design a budget that truly meets the most critical needs of all North Carolinians," he said in a statement.
You can find a full breakdown of the near 630-page budget proposal by visiting the General Assembly's website.
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