McCrory budget proposes raises for teachers, cuts for film

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — Gov. Pat McCrory is proposing pay raises for teachers, state troopers and prison officers in the North Carolina state government budget he’s recommending to the legislature.

McCrory unveiled his two-year spending plan Thursday.

The Republican governor wants to spend $21.5 billion in the year starting July 1, roughly 2 percent higher than the current plan in place.

The governor should get support from lawmakers for his proposal to raise starting teacher salaries from $33,000 to $35,000. Legislative leaders promised last year they would increase that floor. He also wants experience-based raises for teachers. McCrory budget director Lee Roberts says there are no tax increases.

According to the StarNews, McCrory’s proposed budget includes $10 million in film incentive grant funds for each of the next two fiscal years. That is half of what is available in the grant program right now, which has $10 million for the first six months of 2015.

“It’s not just the film grant that we can help them with, but it’s the same types of grants that we give manufactures in other industries, so I consider the film industry an industry as comparable to other industries,” McCrory said. “But I will ask of them like I ask of other companies to put a permanent placement in our state. Not just temporary jobs.”

The legislature will consider McCrory’s spending blueprint while fashioning its own budget through mid-2017. GOP legislative leaders hope McCrory will sign any final proposal into law.

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