Governor McCrory unveils budget plan

RALEIGH, N.C.

The $20.6 billion dollar plan focuses on education, the economy, and making North Carolina government more efficient.

For education, McCrory proposes:

  • $54.4m more to NC pre-K to serve a total of 30,000 kids statewide
  • hiring 1,800 more full-time teachers
  • $43m more for digital learning
  • $625,000 for Center for Safer Schools
  • $28m more to further the Excellent Public Schools Act
  • $7.5m to remedial courses in grades 8-12
  • $32m more for "high demand" community college courses  
  • $28m more for equipment and infrastructure in community colleges
  • $63m to help fund UNC Strategic Directions Plan for high growth sectors

Under government, the Governor wants:

  • ALL state employees (including teachers) get a 1% raise
  • $77m to upgrade IT reserve
  • $7.2m for drug treatment courts
  • $72m to state pension system and $181m to state health plan
  • Sets aside $600m in reserves
  • $400m to Savings Reserve Account
  • $300m for Repairs and Renovations
  • $20m more for Disaster Relief Reserve

Under cost savings, McCrory lists:

  • 2-3% in efficiencies
  • $54m by realigning "outdated and inefficient" correctional facilities

For healthcare:

  • Medicaid - adds $575m
  • Establishes Medicaid Risk Reserve of $180m
  • Mental Health - adds $13m
  • Puts almost $30m to opening Broughton Psychiatric Hospital

Under commerce:

  • $2.7m for branding
  • $1.8m for "Main St. Solutions" - downtown economic development "resumes" One North Carolina Small Business Program"
  • $1m to Agriculture Water Resources Assistance Program (Ag oriented)
  • $76.2m for JDIG (job development)
  • $14m for JMAC (job retention in high paying jobs and large cap projects)

Eugenics:

  • $10m to compensate victims

The budget proposal will be reviewed by lawmakers, who will pass their own spending plan and ask McCrory to sign it into law.

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