South Raleigh News

Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina has unveiled his proposed budget for the fiscal year 2024-2025, titled "Securing North Carolina’s Future." The budget emphasizes investments in key areas such as public education, child care, and workforce development while eschewing taxpayer-funded private school vouchers.

In a statement, Governor Cooper highlighted the importance of the budget in addressing critical needs within the state, stating, “This budget is an opportunity to build on our state’s momentum and make up ground in areas like public education, quality child care and clean drinking water, where legislators have fallen short.”

One of the central focuses of the budget is a significant increase in funding for public education. The Governor's plan includes an average 8.5% raise for teachers, a $1.5 billion investment in public schools, and a moratorium on taxpayer-funded private school vouchers. Governor Cooper emphasized the need to prioritize public schools to drive economic growth and provide students with the resources they need to succeed.

Regarding child care and early education, the budget allocates $745 million to support working families. This includes funding to stabilize child care centers, increase reimbursement rates for providers in underserved communities, and bolster the NC Pre-K program to ensure access to high-quality early education.

The budget also addresses workforce development by investing in state employees. Measures include a 5% across-the-board salary increase, retention bonuses, and funding for programs to attract and retain talented workers in key roles within state government.

Furthermore, the budget aims to stimulate economic growth across North Carolina by investing in workforce development programs, small businesses, and critical infrastructure projects. Initiatives such as job training, apprenticeship programs, and tax cuts for small businesses are designed to create pathways to good-paying jobs and support the state's economic vitality.

In a nod to environmental conservation and community resilience, Governor Cooper's budget includes provisions to protect natural resources and prepare for the impacts of natural disasters. This includes funding for clean drinking water initiatives, conservation efforts, and measures to enhance the state's resilience to flooding and other climate-related challenges.

Overall, Governor Cooper's budget proposal reflects a comprehensive strategy to secure North Carolina's future by prioritizing investments in public education, economic development, workforce development, and environmental protection.