Budget 2016 Coverage

McCrory signs state budget

Gov. Pat McCrory signed the $22.3 billion state budget on Thursday at a Union County elementary school.

Matthew Burns

GOP maps major expansion of NC school voucher program

The number of students in North Carolina receiving vouchers to help pay tuition at private or religious schools could see a six-fold increase over the next 12 years.

Laura Leslie

State budget provision could return ER to Franklin County

A provision in the state budget lawmakers approved last week could help a hospital reopen an emergency room in Franklin County.

Laura Leslie

Budget, corrections head to governor

House lawmakers gave final approval Friday morning to the state budget and a package of corrections to it, but not without some partisan sniping.

Laura Leslie

House Dems criticize state budget, but many vote for it

The proposed $22.34 billion state budget is one vote away from heading to Gov. Pat McCrory after the House voted 92-23 Thursday for preliminary approval of the spending plan.

Matthew Burns

Lawmakers set aside $500,000 for HB2 litigation

Budget writers say Gov. Pat McCrory asked for money to help defend the state against legal action over House Bill 2.

Mark Binker

State budget jeopardizes funding for area transit projects

The $22.34 billion state budget that Senate approved Wednesday contains a provision that puts a damper on plans for rail projects in the Triangle.

Laura Leslie and Mark Binker

Education tops debate during first Senate budget vote

The bill passed 33-16 Tuesday night and will remain on the calendar for a second vote Wednesday.

State budget cuts income taxes, raises teacher and state worker salaries

House and Senate negotiators said Monday evening that they have reached a deal on a $22.34 billion state budget for the fiscal year that starts on Friday.

Mark Binker

Dozens of teachers march for school funding

After marching more than 20 miles over two days to press lawmakers for more education funding in the state budget, several teachers were arrested Wednesday evening while sitting down in the middle of the street outside the State Capitol.

March for school funding ends in 14 arrests

After marching more than 20 miles over two days to press lawmakers for more education funding in the state budget, several teachers were arrested Wednesday evening while sitting down in the middle of Morgan Street outside the State Capitol.

Candace Sweat and Adam Owens

Retired educators thirst for a COLA

As state House and Senate budget writers work on a final compromise, retired teachers and school workers came to the legislature Wednesday to call for a cost-of-living increase to their pensions.

Laura Leslie

Key differences between House, Senate budgets

House and Senate negotiators will have to bridge gaps on taxes, education spending and compromise on policy.

Mark Binker

Year-round school budget provision sparks concern among districts, parents

A provision in the version of the state budget passed by the Senate earlier this month could force year-round schools in Durham, New Hanover and other counties to change their schedules.

Mark Binker

Sen. Barringer says ethics conflict prevented budget vote

Sen. Tamara Barringer, R-Wake, said a budget provision giving money to UNC to study water quality improvement for Falls and Jordan lakes prevented her from partaking in the budget debate.

Mark Binker

Senators skirmish over shellfish

A proposal to rewrite long-standing environmental rules and spend half a million dollars on a questionable shellfish experiment is moving forward in the Senate budget, despite Democrats' efforts to derail it.

Laura Leslie

Senate budget includes tax breaks, clarifications

The Senate tax bill would give income tax filers a break but would collect more in sales taxes for some services.

Mark Binker

Senate gives final approval to $22.2B spending plan

Senate members voted 26-13 shortly after midnight Friday to give final approval to their 2016-17 spending proposal.

Laura Leslie

​Sponsor says he will pull HBCUs controversial tuition provision

Sen. Tom Apodaca, R-Henderson, says he will pull three historically black colleges from a list of UNC system schools where Senate budget writers want to charge $500 per semester.

Mark Binker and Cullen Browder

Senate budget makes big environmental changes

The Senate's 2016 budget plan, which appears to be headed for a speedy passage, makes some big changes to the state's environmental laws.

Laura Leslie

Teacher raises, tax cuts among 'highlights' of Senate budget plan

Senate leaders say their budget plan includes pay raises for teachers, individual income tax cuts. The bill will also include a controversial plan to limit tuition at five UNC schools to $500 per semester.

Mark Binker

SC border in York County

Redrawn border makes SC homeowners NC residents

​Several homeowners in South Carolina could become North Carolina residents by Jan. 1, 2017 thanks to a bill to realign the border between the states.

Bryan Mims and Mark Binker

DOT pushes ahead with restructuring, staff reductions despite House objections

The state Department of Transportation is pushing ahead with a "Reorganization Through Reduction" plan despite a House budget provision asking them to put any reorganization on hold.

Mark Binker

Senate leaders tout teacher pay plan

Senate leaders say their budget includes a teacher pay plan that ensures educators hit the top of the state's salary scale in 15 years and raises average teacher salaries to more than $54,000 over two years.