By CLC Staff

The North Carolina House of Representatives gave final approval to its Fiscal Year 2024 budget this morning, making adjustments to last year’s biannual state budget, which became law on October 3, 2023. The detailed “money report” can be found here.

The bipartisan vote initially passed 73 to 36 on its second reading yesterday, with all of the chamber’s Republicans in support of the bill joined by four Democrats: Representatives Cecil Brockman, Garland Pierce, Shelly Willingham, and Michael Wray. Today’s final vote was 69 to 35; no one voted differently from yesterday, although there were more excused absences. One can watch both days of the budget discussions in the two embedded videos below.

Among the highlights: under the House proposal, the starting salary for a K-12 public school teacher would be raised to $4,400 per month, full-funding of the Opportunity Scholarship program; a 2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) bonus for state government retirees; a 9% raise for correctional officers; a 1% raise for state employees (adding to the 3% raise from last year’s budget); and $135 million appropriated for childcare stabilization grants.

There is currently a 55,000-student waiting list for the incredibly popular Opportunity Scholarship program, which provides vouchers for students to pay for private education. The $250 million allocated in the House budget would clear that backlog.

“The House budget funds critical needs like child care, Opportunity Scholarships, and raises for our teachers and state employees,” commented House Speaker Tim Moore. “I’m confident that this fiscally responsible budget strikes the right balance of conservative spending and prioritizing our needs in Biden’s economy. I am proud that this budget has received bipartisan support in our chamber.”

“The House budget is a testament to our vision and commitment to building a better future for North Carolina,” added Representative Jason Saine, a House Budget Chair. “It balances fiscal prudence with bold investments, and I am encouraged by the bipartisan support for the bill. This budget will keep our state on the right path and help North Carolina families in light of these uncertain economic times.”

According House Budget Co-chair Dean Arp, the additional funding will not come from the state’s savings reserve which “remains at record highs.”

There were also 25 different amendments offered to the budget. Just under half were adopted.

The House budget’s fate is uncertain at this point however, as negotiations with the state Senate continue in fits and starts. Both chambers of the General Assembly are required to give their assent to enact any legislation, including appropriations bills. The legislature passes a two-year budget in odd-numbered years (called the “long session”) and makes changes it sees fit in even years during its so-called “short session.”

Should there fail to be a final compromise between the House and Senate, state government would continue to be funded at levels authorized under last year’s biannual budget.