Politics

Johnson applauds new teacher pay raise bill

By Lightning Reports, Published: October 31, 2019

State Rep. Jake Johnson on Thursday applauded an education budget that would direct an additional $245,488,949 in pay raises for teachers and other school personnel.

“I believe education has to be a top priority in North Carolina if we want to see long-term success and stability in our state," Johnson said. "Thanks to the fiscal policies that allow this economy to flourish, we are able to take that revenue and reinvest it in our schools. If implemented, this plan would provide much deserved pay increases to educators from our K-12 schools, our community colleges, our state universities, as well as other staff and faculty who play such a large part in our students’ experience. Thank you for all that you do.”

North Carolina House Republicans held a press conference Wednesday discussing their plan to give educators a larger pay increase than in the original House budget. The announcement after the Republican leadership announced an additional $277 million in projected revenue as a result of the GOP's fiscal policies and a booming North Carolina economy. The teacher pay raise bill passed the House by a vote of 62-46.

If the Gov. Roy Cooper signs the budget, or an override is successful, and the budget is implemented, the following changes would be made to the budget regarding pay raises:
• K-12 teachers who were originally looking at an average salary increase (based on years of experience) of 3.9% over the biennium, will now be getting a 4.4% raise over the biennium. That is an additional investment of $28.2 million dollars for K-12 teachers.
• Community college professors who were originally looking at a 1% pay raise per year for the biennium, will now be getting a 2% pay raise each year. That is a 100% increase and total additional investment of nearly $37 million dollars.
• Non-Certified staff, who had been left out in past salary raises, and were looking at a 1% pay raise per year will now be getting a 2% pay raise per year with a .5% bonus as well, more than double the original pay raise increase. An additional $46.2 million dollars.
• In addition to those listed above, there will also be a raise given to assistant principals across the state, North Carolina university system professors and the instructors at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics.