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NC Budget Battle

State officials announced a $22.3 billion state budget.
Dave Crosby
/
Flickr
State officials announced a $22.3 billion state budget.
North Carolina State Legislature
Credit Dave Crosby / Flickr
/
Flickr
North Carolina State Legislature

The North Carolina House outlined a $22.9 billion spending plan that calls for about $350 million in tax cuts. It allots funding for pension adjustments for state retirees and $181 million for teacher raises. 

The N.C. House budget proposal allocates $181 million for teacher raises while the N.C. Senate plan sets aside a more conservative $131 million for teacher pay increases.
Credit Jason deBruyn / WUNC
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WUNC
The N.C. House budget proposal allocates $181 million for teacher raises while the N.C. Senate plan sets aside a more conservative $131 million for teacher pay increases.

WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Jeff Tiberii gives us an update on the state budget negotiations.

The House and Senate plans have the same total price tag and are in agreement over some items, like providing $150 million for Hurricane Matthew relief. But they differ in their plans for teacher salaries. The Senate plan also pushes for $600 million more in tax cuts. Host Frank Stasio speaks with WUNC Capitol Bureau Chief Jeff Tiberii about the latest in state budget negotiations. 

Copyright 2017 North Carolina Public Radio

Laura Pellicer is a producer with The State of Things (hyperlink), a show that explores North Carolina through conversation. Laura was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, a city she considers arrestingly beautiful, if not a little dysfunctional. She worked as a researcher for CBC Montreal and also contributed to their programming as an investigative journalist, social media reporter, and special projects planner. Her work has been nominated for two Canadian RTDNA Awards. Laura loves looking into how cities work, pursuing stories about indigenous rights, and finding fresh voices to share with listeners. Laura is enamored with her new home in North Carolina—notably the lush forests, and the waves where she plans on moonlighting as a mediocre surfer.
Longtime NPR correspondent Frank Stasio was named permanent host of The State of Things in June 2006. A native of Buffalo, Frank has been in radio since the age of 19. He began his public radio career at WOI in Ames, Iowa, where he was a magazine show anchor and the station's News Director.