RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — On Wednesday, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein alongside State Budget Director Kristin Walker announced the 2025-2027 budget proposal to keep North Carolina strong.
The Governor’s budget makes key investments in the economy, families, education, workforce, health care and public safety.
“North Carolina is strong because our people are strong, and we must work to maintain our strength so that future generations will continue to reap the benefits of our work,” said Governor Josh Stein. “My budget is balanced and puts kids and families – their job opportunities, their education, their wallets, their health and their safety – first.”
Building a strong workforce
Governor Stein’s budget plans to expand on job opportunities in the state by investing in apprenticeship programs, along with providing free community college to students pursuing credentials in high demand industries. The budget also emphasizes support for people rejoining the workforce after incarceration.
Lowering costs for families
Many North Carolinians continue to struggle to pay bills as costs climb, especially with housing and child care. The budget seeks to lower costs by expanding child care options and paying early childhood educators more. It also plans to cut taxes for middle class families and build more homes.
The targeted tax cuts will put more money in North Carolinians’ pockets had help offset the close of other basic necessities.
Improve public education
The budget proposal plans to raise starting teacher pay to be the highest in the Southeast and reward and retain teachers so students can have access to the best education.
It will also invest in student health by hiring more school nurses, counselors and social workers. Also providing free breakfast in N.C. public schools.
The Governor’s budget proposes a $4 billion bond to modernize old and outdated school buildings.
Health and safety
The budget addressed the shortage of law enforcement officers with raises for state law enforcement officers, specifically correctional officers and school counselors.
The proposal also recommends investments that will get drugs such as fentanyl off the street, solve cold sexual assault cases and fund body cameras to produce objective evidence.
Promotion of affordable health care is also proposed, along with supporting rural clinics, more support with people suffering from substance abuse and ensuring clean water and clean air for the state.
Fiscal growth in the state
The budget plans to establish an IMPACT Center to improve the efficiency of state programs to achieve greater value for tax dollars. It also recognizes that North Carolina’s needed investments are impossible with current pre-programmed tax breaks for corporations and wealthy individuals. Governor Stein’s budget proposes freezing current individual and corporate tax rates so that the state can keep up with its rapid population growth and avoid a fiscal cliff.
To read Governor Stein’s full budget proposal, click here.
