{"id":4152,"date":"2026-07-08T08:34:06","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T08:34:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=4152"},"modified":"2026-07-08T08:34:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T08:34:06","slug":"nc-budget-with-year-delayed-raises-is-now-law-gov-stein-signs-spending-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durhammovinghub.com\/?p=4152","title":{"rendered":"NC budget with year-delayed raises is now law. Gov. Stein signs spending plan"},"content":{"rendered":"

AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.<\/p>\n

Read our AI Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n

North Carolina \u2014 a year late \u2014 now has a state budget, as Democratic Gov. Josh Stein signed the legislation into law on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Read more NC prison staff will get raises, but still among nation\u2019s lowest-paid, agency says<\/a><\/p>\n

The new law drafted by Republican lawmakers means that thousands of teachers and state employees will get across-the-board raises they\u2019ve been waiting on for a year, as the Old North State was the last in the country to pass a new budget.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis budget bill gets a lot of things right,\u201d Stein said, highlighting how it delivers the \u201clargest starting teacher pay raise in nearly 50 years,\u201d fully funds Medicaid, gives double-digit pay raises to state law enforcement officers and appropriates $700 million to help residents of Western North Carolina continue their recovery from Helene.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are real wins worthy of celebration and worthy of my signature. So, after careful deliberation, this morning I will sign the state budget into law,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

But, \u201cI won\u2019t sweep this budget\u2019s flaws under the rug,\u201d Stein said during a signing ceremony at the Executive Mansion, flanked by law enforcement officers, healthcare professionals, teachers and other state officials and employees.<\/p>\n

Stein said the raises for many state employees are not enough to keep up with inflation and that the state has faced years of \u201cunderinvestment in state and public services,\u201d meaning many of the raises don\u2019t take the state out of the bottom rankings on several metrics.<\/p>\n

He criticized several provisions in the budget, such as cuts to vacant job positions. He noted the budget eliminates the Office of Health Equity, within the state\u2019s health and human services department, which works to improve health access and eliminate health disparities, and the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses in the Department of Administration, which helps connect people to jobs.<\/p>\n

It also is \u201cfully of unconstitutional and petty provisions that strip power from the executive branch, politicize state government and undermine its efficiency,\u201d Stein said. The budget includes several policy changes that take appointment power from the governor<\/a> and give it to some Republican members of the Council of State.<\/p>\n

Asked whether he is considering suing, Stein told reporters after the bill signing that \u201cwe will review our options.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite these provisions, Stein said lawmakers accepted several of his \u201cbig-ticket budget recommendations, and having just celebrated America 250 this weekend, we remember that our democracy has always run on compromise for the common good.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bill, which emerged from drawn-out negotiations<\/a> between Republican House Speaker Destin Hall and Republican Senate leader Phil Berger, gained support from half of House Democrats<\/a> and several Senate Democrats.<\/p>\n

It seemed likely Stein would sign the bill, in part because of the number of Democrats who already voted for it. Republicans have a veto-proof supermajority in the Senate, but need some help from Democrats or independents in the House to override a veto by a three-fifths majority. Final budget votes were 88-21 in the House and 35-10 in the Senate.<\/p>\n

Asked by The N&O, when it first crossed his desk, about Democrats who voted in favor of the budget, Stein said he thinks \u201cthat\u2019s a sign that there\u2019s some good things in the bill and there\u2019s some bad things in the bill.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more \u2018In the City’ Preview: Amanda Suggests Double Date With West, Kyle and Salley<\/a><\/p>\n

Teachers will get an average raise of 8%, with the highest raises for starting teachers.<\/p>\n

Law enforcement raises range from 10.1% to 27.5%.<\/p>\n

Most state employees, UNC System and community college employees will receive 3% raises across the board.<\/p>\n

The House and Senate each passed its own budget bill in 2025, but top Republican negotiators failed to reach a final deal for a year. The main debate was over the amount of raises and tax cuts.<\/p>\n

Berger said in a news release after the budget was signed that the spending plan builds on more than a decade of GOP-led fiscal policy focused on tax cuts, restrained government spending and economic growth.<\/p>\n

Berger said he was \u201cglad Gov. Stein recognizes how vital this budget is for the people of North Carolina.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hall said in a news release that \u201ctoday, the best budget in decades becomes law, delivering historic raises for teachers and law enforcement, as well as tax relief for the working men and women of our state. There is something in this budget for every North Carolinian, and the meaningful investments we\u2019ve made will deliver real results that strengthen our communities, put more money back in people\u2019s pockets, and improve lives across our state.\u201d\ufeff<\/p>\n

Stein told reporters after the budget signing that \u201cwhen you have a massive bill, $35 billion budget, there\u2019s a lot of give and take, there\u2019s a lot of compromise.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stein said he had spoken with Hall on Tuesday to tell him he would be signing the budget and appreciated several provisions in it, but noted there were also things he did not like and areas where they would continue to work. Stein said Hall told him, \u201c\u2019Look, in this budget there are things that I don\u2019t like. In this budget, there are things that the president pro tempore doesn\u2019t like.\u2019 That\u2019s what happens in a democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Republican committee chairs \u201cdid a good job\u201d engaging and working with his Cabinet secretaries on provisions in the budget, Stein said.<\/p>\n

Americans for Prosperity, a conservative advocacy group, said in a news release that \u201cthis budget proves that low taxes and responsible spending can go hand-in-hand. North Carolinians deserve nothing less, and today\u2019s signature means that relief is now on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

The group said the budget \u201ccements the legacy Senator Berger has built over his years leading the Senate, while clearly outlining the vision Speaker Hall has for the future of our state.\u201d<\/p>\n

Berger lost his primary in March and will leave the legislature and his leadership role at the end of the year, opening the door to new dynamics as lawmakers prepare to restart the budget process next year, with a new spending plan due in July.<\/p>\n

Read more Love Island USA’s Zach Jokes That He Wants to Go to the Hideaway With Bryce<\/a><\/p>\n

This story was originally published July 7, 2026 at 10:37 AM.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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