A year late, NC lawmakers finishing budget bill on Monday, with votes this week
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- North Carolina lawmakers plan to reveal a 2026-2027 state budget bill Monday or Tuesday.
- Budget framework includes a 13% pay raise for law enforcement statewide.
- Plan proposes $1,750 bonus for state employees earning under $75,000.
A year late, North Carolina lawmakers are finally set to reveal a state budget bill as early as Monday, with votes expected this week.
House Majority Leader Brenden Jones, a Tabor City Republican, posted some details on social media midday Monday and said that the agreement is “being finalized,” with details to come.
Tens of thousands of teachers and state employees have been waiting a year for across-the-board raises. Lawmakers started this new budget as an outlook for the 2026-2027 fiscal year that begins July 1, not anything for the year that has passed. Bonuses were pitched as a way to make up for some of those lost raises.
Jones confirmed what top Republicans said in May when they reached a budget deal “framework” on raises and tax policy:
- 13% pay raise for law enforcement,
- 8% pay raise, on average, for teachers,
- $1,750 bonus for state employees whose salaries are lower than $75,000 a year.
Jones also said that there is more than $3 billion in reserves.
The news comes after WRAL-TV reported Sunday that a deal had been reached that night, including the lack of funding in the agreement for a potential Major League Baseball stadium.
The News & Observer also confirmed the deal, and that baseball was not part of it, on Monday morning.
If the budget document — which has not been released publicly — comes out by Monday evening, it can be in committees as soon as Tuesday morning, with votes to follow.
House Speaker Destin Hall’s spokesperson, Demi Dowdy, told The N&O on Monday that the bill will be released Monday night or early Tuesday morning, with votes likely on Wednesday and Thursday.
There is also the possibility that the budget bill this week isn’t the last spending bill. Lawmakers could pass a bill with raises and money for big projects, and then pass another budget bill later this summer with additional spending.
