North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory released more details Friday morning from his budget plan for the 2016-17 fiscal year that starts July 1.
McCrory's plan increases state spending by 2.8 percent to $22.3 billion, a slightly smaller increase in spending compared with last year. The governor says his budget doesn’t change taxes or fees. About 57 percent of the budget goes to education. That includes money for teacher raises averaging five percent and bonuses averaging three and a half percent.
McCrory proposes an average three percent bonus for all state employees, with targeted raises for hard to fill positions such as correctional officers. It sets aside $350 million for the state’s "rainy day" fund, bringing the total to$1.4 billion. The governor’s budget also includes a previously-announced $30 million to help people with mental health and substance abuse problems.
Senate leader Phil Berger has said he wanted a smaller increase in spending than McCrory proposed as well as a tax cut. But the Rockingham County Republican released a statement Friday morning saying McCrory’s plan sets the right tone. The governor’s office will release the full budget Wednesday, April 27.