North Carolina's budget proposal is on the table, and Governor Josh Stein has weighed in. In a statement released Thursday, Stein expressed a mix of approval and caution regarding the North Carolina House's plans for the state's finances.
While the governor praised the proposed raise in teacher pay, which would place the state second in starting salaries in the Southeast, he also shed light on potential shortcomings. "The House’s proposed budget isn’t perfect," Stein said in a statement obtained by the Governor's Office. He highlighted the planned tax cuts for working families and nods toward public safety, child care, and workforce training as positives. At the same time, Governor Stein criticized the Senate’s fiscal approach, stating that it "will result in fewer teachers and law enforcement officers and diminished services that would harm our people."
Stein positioned himself as a mediator, conveying his readiness to work with both chambers. With the aim of refining the budget, his focus is on bolstering support for "teachers, law enforcement, state employees, and critical services and infrastructure." Governor Stein insisted on the necessity of investment in the state's citizens to foster a safer and more affluent state, packed with opportunities for everyone, as per the Governor's Office.
The governor also leveled criticism at the Senate’s budget proposal. Governor Stein argued it was "fiscally irresponsible" and contended that the Senate’s "revenue scheme will result in fewer teachers and law enforcement officers and diminished services that would harm our people." His concerns echo widely shared anxieties that financial mismanagement could undercut the state's growth and stability.
As final negotiations loom, the governor’s openness to collaboration could be the linchpin in harmonizing the differing visions for the state’s financial future. "There is more work to be done to ensure our state invests in North Carolina’s most valuable resource: our people," said Stein in a statement obtained by the Governor's Office.
