For teachers and state employees, it's payback time.

Perdue's budget proposal would not give teachers or state employees a raise but would give them a onetime bonus of one-half of 1 percent of their salary to compensate for the pay cut last year, which was imposed in the form of a 10-hour furlough.

Teachers also would receive their longevity-based pay increases.

Perdue also proposed giving teachers and state workers four more paid days off. Her budget encourages them to take one of those days Dec. 23, effectively shutting down government for an extra day during the Christmas holiday.

Spokeswoman Toni Davis of the State Employees Association of North Carolina said the group appreciates Perdue's payback and the extra vacation time.

Staff writer Mark Johnson