NC lawmakers advance record $34.4B state budget

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina lawmakers have advanced a record $34.4 billion state budget. Key funding priorities include an average eight percent raise for teachers, hundreds of millions for Hurricane Helene disaster recovery, and expanded DMV staffing to lower wait times.

However, critics strongly oppose spending cuts to early childhood literacy programs and a new $150 annual fee for coastal ferry commuters.

A final vote is expected this week before the bill heads to Governor Josh Stein.