Educators react to NC budget bill as House vote looms

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- State lawmakers are moving closer to passing a budget bill that would spend more than $1 billion, funding basic aspects of state government but not the teacher raises and bonuses previously debated between the House and Senate.

The bill, HB 125, comes amid the impasse between the House and Senate that resulted in legislators leaving for their summer break before a full budget was passed.

"It's frustrating in general to not get that bump-up that everyone's been looking for," said Rodney Obaigbena, a longtime teacher in Wake County.

Obaigbena's been an educator in Wake County for more than a decade -- plenty of time to see lawmakers debate raises for employees such as himself in budgets through the years.

"We need to see our leaders get together and solve real problems instead of the back and forth banter that we always get and the pointing fingers, because when you point fingers, nothing happens. And people that are in this position doing this work, we still suffer," he said.

He said Tuesday that he's encouraged that Senate lawmakers were able to pass a limited budget this week and hopes that it means they'll come to terms with their House counterparts on a full version that includes meaningful raises.

"I'm glad they're talking about it. And I think regardless of whether they agree or disagree, they seem to be trying to do something, which is better than doing nothing," he said.

House Bill 125, the spending bill that passed 47-2 in the Senate on Tuesday, includes step increases for public school teachers, which are the small, annual increases in salary pre-approved by the legislature -- but not the larger raises and bonuses that were a sticking point in budget talks earlier this year.

ALSO SEE | North Carolina lawmakers override Stein vetoes on several key bills

As other educators point out, some longtime educators won't see any increase under the limited spending bill.

"For folks who have been teaching in North Carolina for 15 to 24 years there, there's a single step, so there is no salary advancement," said Kim Mackey, a longtime social studies teacher at Green Hope High School in Cary.

ALSO SEE | Durham looking to bring rapid transit buses to the Bull City

The House's original budget proposal provided larger pay increases for teachers, particularly in starting teacher pay, boosting salaries on average by 8.7% but more than 20% for new teachers during the two-year term. The Senate's proposal would increase teacher pay by less than half that much, but includes $3,000 bonuses for all teachers.

Mackey says it's up to state leaders to figure out a way to retain experienced teachers, but she has concerns.

"With this continued volatility, it makes it uncertain of how many experienced people are going to stay in education. And to what extent is that a shared priority with the Senate leaders?" said Mackey.