The Latest: Senate gives preliminary approval to budget deal


Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on the General Assembly voting on the North Carolina state budget agreement for the next fiscal year (all times local):

7:05 p.m.

The North Carolina Senate has given its initial approval to a state budget agreement reached with the House for the next 12 months.

Senators voted 33-16 on Tuesday evening in favor of the $22.3 billion proposal, which adjusts the second year of the current two-year budget. Another Senate vote is expected Wednesday. The House was expected to sign off on the measure later in the week. Gov. Pat McCrory would be asked to sign the measure.

Republican Senators praised their work because it raised teacher salaries on average by 4.7 percent, cut taxes by raising standard deductions and placing more money in reserves for the next economic downturn. Rank-and-file state employees also get 1.5 percent raises and bonuses.

But Democrats who voted "no" criticized it for expanding taxpayer-funded scholarships for K-12 students to attend private schools and for setting aside too much money for special and local projects.

__

4:30 a.m.

Republicans in the General Assembly have agreed to a final state government budget, so the process now begins for lawmakers to vote on the plan and get it to Gov. Pat McCrory's desk.

The Senate has scheduled its first vote for Tuesday afternoon on a $22.3 billion spending deal worked out with House counterparts. The House won't vote on the proposal until Wednesday at the earliest.

The plan adjusting the second year of the current two-year budget would take effect this Friday. It includes average 4.7 percent pay raises for teachers and at least 1.5 percent raises for rank-and-file state employees. There are also tax cuts for people who use the standard deduction when filing their income taxes.

The budget deal means lawmakers are very close to adjourning this year.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Most recent Business stories

Related topics

Business
The Associated Press

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast