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North Carolina Democratic governor’s plan to increase spending by 20% scoffed at by Republicans
Fox News
Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s big budget increase of 20% was scoffed at by the GOP. North Carolina’s Republicans originally favored an increase of around 10%.
"Once-in-a-generation opportunities require once-in-a-generation investments," Cooper said at a news conference. "This budget we’re presenting today meets the moment."
The governor's proposed budget would give public school educators average salary raises of 18% through mid-2025 and raises of more than 8% over two years to other school workers employees, along with bonuses of either $1,000 or $1,500 for all of these workers. State employees in hard-to-staff positions also could expect additional pay boosts. The raises are designed to address 5,000 teacher vacancies and those in state government, where vacancy rates are nearly double what they were before the pandemic.