Governor's 2024 Budget
Last month, Gov. Roy Cooper unveiled his $34.5 billion budget proposal emphasizing significant investments in public schools and a temporary halt on private school vouchers. Cooper proposed an average 8.5% raise for teachers, a 5% raise for other state employees, and a $1,500 bonus for most state workers. His plan also includes a moratorium on increasing funds for North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarships for private schools, citing concerns about the impact on public education.
The energy provisions of the governor’s proposal focus on workforce development for the industry and increasing sustainability and efficiency funding for state buildings.
Additionally, the budget includes a $745 million allocation for early childhood education, addressing the expiration of federal funding for many childhood education centers, as well as a $2.5 billion school construction bond to fund building 90 new elementary and middle schools statewide.