North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper Proposes $34.5 Billion Budget With Teacher Pay Raises, Bonuses

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is pushing for large investments in public education, along with pay rises for teachers and increased child care as part of his state budget proposals unveiled on Wednesday. The Democrat presented his $34.5 billion proposed budget adjustment for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024-25 at the start of the North Carolina General Assembly’s short session, during which the Republican-controlled legislature hoped to pass a bill adjusting spending in the face of a roughly $1.4 billion revenue surplus. Mr. Cooper said his proposal “builds on the state’s success as the top state to do business in the country for two years in a row and responsibly invests North Carolina’s strong surplus to provide tax relief to small businesses and working families coupled with investments that benefit everyday people, including quality child care, job training, and clean drinking water,” according to a press release from his office....