North Carolina Senate Passes Mini Budget

A busy day at the North Carolina General Assembly Tuesday concluded with the Senate passing a mini budget to fund certain programs, but a full budget agreement is still teetering nearly a month after its deadline.

“I think what we’ve done is addressed sort of the more immediate, pressing concerns that are out there,” said Phil Berger, the Senate’s leading Republican.

The legislation passed 47-2, after the Senate spent most of the day debating overrides of several pieces of legislation vetoed by Democratic Governor Josh Stein.

“Today was about making sure we deliver as much as possible, knowing that we’re going to be out for quite a while, to the people of North Carolina,” Senate Minority Leader Sydney Batch explained.

The agreement does not include several key issues that have been focal points of ongoing budget debate, including potential tax cuts and increasing teacher pay.

It does, however, allow state employees like teachers to get automatic step increases.

“These steps are necessary to make sure our educators continue to progress throughout the profession,” said Tamika Walker Kelly, president of the North Carolina Association of Educators.

While she’s encouraged to see step increases as part of this mini budget, Walker Kelly stresses the importance of having pay increases for teachers in a completed budget.

“For our educators all across the state, this budget will determine whether they remain teachers for our students or if they leave the profession altogether.”

“We’re continuing to have conversations, we will see if there’s something we can reach agreement on,” Berger said.

The mini budget also includes $600 million in rebase for Medicaid, allowing the state to catch up on rising costs. Democrats are concerned it doesn’t go far enough, citing new federal policies.

“We’re going to have to cut services off for so many people where it’s a lifeline to keep them healthy,” Batch said.

Republicans disagree.

“The changes that have taken place will cause us to take a look at where we are, are there things that we can continue? Are there things that we need to change? But we’re just not at a place at the present time to make those decisions,” said Berger.

The House is expected to take up the mini budget on Wednesday.

Discussions on a full budget are set to pick back up again in August.

Written by Harrison Grubb