Senator Bill Cook Legislative Update: IX | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

Budget Update


    Today, Saturday, August 02, 2014, the House passed a $21.25 billion state budget. The Senate passed the same bipartisan state budget on Friday, August 01, 2014. Next, it will be sent to the Governor to be signed into law. It includes a prudent 2.2 percent overall spending increase to keep pace with inflation and increases funding for the state's K-12 public schools by $184.8 million, for North Carolina's community colleges by $11.9 million and for the University of North Carolina system by $26.2 million.

N.C. Public Education



    This budget preserves all teachers assistant positions, protects classroom funding and continues to give superintendents broad flexibility to tailor classroom spending to their districts' needs. We are blessed with some of the best teachers in the country and they're invaluable to the success of our children. This budget provides our public school educators the largest pay raise ever in state history – averaging 7 percent. The $282 million investment will move North Carolina from 46th to 32nd in national teacher pay rankings. This will put the state as a regional leader and encourage the best and brightest teachers to make a long-term commitment to their profession, our students and our state. The budget will also fulfill the commitment that we made earlier this year to extend supplemental pay for teachers with Master's degrees to those who have completed at least one course in a graduate program as of July 1, 2013.

    In addition, teachers do NOT lose their longevity pay. Under the new salary schedule, it's wound into their base pay and paid over the course of the year rather than in one lump sum. The raises we are providing teachers are on top of their total compensation, including longevity pay. Please see the below chart. Take a look at a teacher who was in step 15 this past year but is moving to step 16 this school year. Look at what the base pay for this year is in step 15 -- $39,650. The total compensation including longevity in step 15 is $40,542. Now drop down to step 16 (where they are moving this upcoming school year.) You will see they will receive a raise to $43,500. This amounts to a 7.3 percent raise on total compensation (the $40,542 figure including longevity) from the year prior.


Medicaid


    The budget preserves current Medicaid eligibility and allocates an additional $186 million for a Medicaid Contingency Reserve. Legislative Republicans have been forced to spend over two billion additional tax dollars on this runaway federal entitlement program since 2011 and plan to return for a special session in November to restructure and reform Medicaid.

State Employees and Highway Patrol Troopers


    Most state employees will receive a $1,000 pay raise and five bonus vacation days. It will also increase pay in the step-eligible for our Highway Patrol Troopers between five and six percent.

Elizabeth City State University


    Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) is a key educational and economic resource for northeastern North Carolina. A provision included in the final budget request a study of ECSU to help the University improve financial or enrollment concerns. There will be many different aspects of ECSU's operations examined and reported on to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee. I want to see ECSU to grow and prosper for years to come.

OBX Land Management Fund (Oregon Inlet)


    I greatly appreciate the language regarding Oregon Inlet included in the budget - it's a reflection of what I introduced in Senate Bill – SB791. The economic impact of Oregon Inlet is very significant and far outweighs the costs necessary to keep the inlet passable. The latest study suggest a total annual economic impact of 3,319 jobs and $403.5 million to Dare County, 3,601 jobs and $423.3 million to the surrounding region, and 4,348 jobs and $548.4 million to the state of North Carolina. I have been assured that appropriations will be available for this project.

NO New Ferry Tolls


    To protect our community from possible tolls, I sponsored Senate Bill - SB792, Ferry Tolling/Replacement Fund. My bill removes all ferry tolls, funds future ferry vessel replacement and pushes NC DOT to explore alternative sources of revenue. While the bill still remains in committee, I successfully worked with NC DOT and legislative leadership to add a provision in HB1025 to expand DOT's authority to generate revenue from sponsorship's and advertising within our ferry system. The provision language is the same as I included in SB792. Allowing advertising and concession contracts within the N.C. Ferry Division are examples of alternatives to ferry tolling, which can replace tolling. We are making progress. Current law gives the local Rural Planning Organization the decision to toll or not to toll. I trust that our local elected officials on our RPO will not take up ferry tolling and continue to help me identify and pass solutions in the General Assembly that will allow us to put an end to the ferry tolling debate once and for all.

Jennette's Pier NOT For Sale


    After working with my House colleagues, the provision requesting the Department of Administration to sell Jennette's Pier in Nags Head, has been excluded from the final budget. The provision was never included in the Senate budget, and although included in the House budget, I was able to keep it out of the final budget. The pier is an outstanding attraction for the Outer Banks and all of North Carolina which covers its own operating cost


Contact: Jordan Hennessy
     jordan.hennessy@ncleg.net, •  (252) 619-3606


     300 N. Salisbury Street
     Room 525 • Raleigh, NC 27603

    Phone: (919) 715-8293  •  Fax: (919) 754-3296  •  bill.cook@ncleg.netand was built with much of local resources.
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