Governor Stein has unveiled his highly anticipated budget for 2025-2027, aiming to make significant strides in various areas such as the economy, education, and public safety in North Carolina. The proposal has sparked discussions among lawmakers and experts, drawing attention to its potential impact on families, the workforce, and public services. Below are insights into the prominent aspects of this budget plan.
Strengthening Families and Reducing Living Costs
Alexandra Sirota, NC Budget and Tax Center Executive Director: “The Governor’s proposal makes sure working families keep more of what they earn and can keep up with rising costs for the basics like groceries, gas, and rent. With targeted tax cuts for working families — proven to reduce hardship — the proposal boosts incomes and helps families meet the high cost of raising children,”
North Carolina Partnership for Children: The organization welcomes the proposed budget, which offers increased support for child care programs and tax credits. These initiatives aim to enhance the economy by supporting families and children through programs like NC Pre-K and Smart Start.
Carolina Hunger Initiative: Highlighting the importance of nutrition programs, the initiative emphasizes that prioritizing free school breakfasts in the budget could significantly impact child hunger in the state, where food insecurity affects one in five children.
NC Early Childhood Foundation: The foundation praises the budget for its ambitious focus on children’s welfare and economic growth, underscoring the link between family support and community prosperity.
Building a Strong Workforce
MyFutureNC: The budget aligns with educational and workforce goals, offering increased financial support for students seeking valuable credentials and apprenticeships, which are key to maintaining North Carolina’s economic competitiveness.
Surry-Yadkin Works: By prioritizing work-based learning and partnerships with businesses, the budget supports initiatives that equip students with practical experience, ensuring a seamless transition from education to employment in high-demand sectors.
Enhancing Public Education
North Carolina State Superintendent Mo Green: “I applaud Governor Stein’s transformative education budget proposal that invests in our most precious resource – our children. This proposal raises starting teacher salaries to the highest in the Southeast, provides a 10.6% average raise for existing teachers over the biennium and restores master’s pay for over 1,000 teachers whose advanced degrees are in the subjects they teach. It demonstrates a deep commitment to valuing educators and addressing our critical teacher shortage, directly aligning with my priority to revere the teaching profession across North Carolina.”
NC School Meals for All Executive Director Abby Emanuelson: Expressing gratitude, Emanuelson points out that the $85 million allocated for free school meals in the budget is vital for ensuring students start their day well-nourished, urging continued legislative support for this initiative.
Ensuring Health and Safety
North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality: The budget emphasizes investments in infrastructure to safeguard natural resources, focusing on water systems and emerging environmental threats.
North Carolina Council on Developmental Disabilities: Praising the Governor’s attention to developmental disabilities, the Council highlights the importance of ongoing communication and collaboration to address community needs amid budget constraints.
The Arc of NC: The Arc expresses appreciation for funding dedicated to programs that aid individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, looking forward to further discussions on securing necessary resources.
Click here to read Governor Stein’s full budget proposal.
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