North Carolina has a new two-year state budget after Governor Josh Stein signed the $34 billion spending plan into law, ending months of negotiations between lawmakers and the governor’s office. The budget includes funding for teacher pay raises, salary increases for state employees and law enforcement officers, expanded child care initiatives, affordable housing investments, and additional Hurricane Helene recovery efforts for western North Carolina.
Education remains one of the budget’s biggest priorities, with teachers set to receive an average 8% pay raise, while state employees and public safety personnel will also see salary increases. The spending plan continues previously approved tax reductions, maintains funding for the state’s Opportunity Scholarship program, and allocates resources to infrastructure, workforce development, and economic growth initiatives. Lawmakers say the budget is designed to strengthen North Carolina’s long-term financial outlook while addressing key needs across the state.
Governor Stein said the budget reflects important investments in North Carolina’s future while acknowledging that not every priority was fully addressed during negotiations. The newly signed budget will now guide state spending for the next two fiscal years, impacting education, public safety, transportation, disaster recovery, and a variety of government services across North Carolina.
(Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)
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