NC budget pact promises teacher raises, law enforcement pay bumps

North Carolina lawmakers announced a budget deal that would raise starting teacher pay to $48,000 (about $53,000 with local supplements), deliver an average 8% raise for teachers plus tenure-based one-time bonuses, and provide sizable raises for state employees and law enforcement (roughly 13% on average, with larger boosts for SBI/ALE and other agencies). The package also includes 3% raises for principals and other school personnel; raises would take effect in the new fiscal year if the bill passes before July 1, with bonuses paid on July 1. The deal remains to be filed into legislation and awaits Gov. Stein’s signature.