NC House budget has big pay increase for new teachers, modest state employee raises
North Carolina Rep. Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) speaks with reporters at the legislative building on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. The House will begin moving its budget proposal through the chamber this week. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)
North Carolina House Republicans' budget proposal includes 2.5% raises for state employees and an increase to beginning teachers' base pay.
The state House will vote on its spending plan this week, with Appropriations and Finance committee meetings Tuesday and possible floor votes to follow Wednesday and Thursday.
After the House passes its budget, House and Senate negotiators will meet to reconcile their differences, including differences over how to compensate state employees.
The Senate budget proposal approved last month included 1.25% raises and $3,000 in bonuses spread over two years for most state employees. Law enforcement officers would receive bigger raises under the Senate plan.
Both the House and Senate budget proposals would eliminate vacant jobs. The House budget says it is using money from eliminating positions to fund employee raises.
The House budget includes 'one time' supplements for retirees of 1% in the first budget year and 2% in the second year.
The House budget increases starting teacher base pay from $41,000 to $48,000 in 2025-26, and to $50,000 the following year. The House budget would also restore salary supplements for teachers with advanced degrees.
'The NC House budget delivers some of the largest teacher pay raises in state history – because we're serious about investing in our classrooms not just talking about it,' Rep. Brenden Jones (R-Columbus) wrote on social media.
While beginning teacher salaries would rise dramatically, teachers with 25 years' experience and more would see only 2.1% raises.
Tamika Walker Kelly, president of the NC Association of Educators, said that while her organization appreciates the attention to beginning teacher pay, experienced teachers deserve more.
'We appreciate lawmakers' recognition of the urgent need to raise starting teacher pay and restore master's pay to help address the teacher shortage faced by our public schools,' Kelly said in a statement. 'Attracting new and highly qualified educators into the profession is essential, but if we want our schools to be the best in the Southeast, we need to do more for veteran teachers, who are the backbone of our public schools.
'A minor 2.1% raise for our most experienced teachers doesn't send the signal that we value long-time education professionals, despite the scientific evidence that veteran teachers help students learn and grow more, and the reality that new teachers depend on the experience of their colleagues.'
On taxes, the House budget increases the standard deduction by $500 for tax filers who are single and by $1,000 for married people filing jointly.
A tax deduction on tips of up to $5,000 would begin in the 2026 tax year.
The budget also revives back-to-school sales tax holiday for the first weekend in August starting next year.
Lawmakers in both the House and Senate are having to budget more carefully this year to deal with the massive rebuilding effort in the western part of the state. Gov. Josh Stein asked state lawmakers Monday to approve an additional $891 million in post-Helene funding, amid concerns that federal aid was slow and uncertain.
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