LUMBERTON — Robeson County’s four representatives in the House say they will likely vote in favor of a proposed $22.3 state budget, citing raises for teachers and other state employees as highlights.

House members are expected to vote today on the proposal, which adjusts the second year of the state’s current two-year budget that becomes effective Friday. The budget has already passed the Senate and would still need the signature of Gov. Pat McCrory before it becomes law.

“This bill is not dramatically different from what we sent up to the conference committee for consideration,” said Rep. Ken Goodman. “I think it will pass with a strong number of Democrats supporting it.”

All the local legislators are Democrats.

Strong points in the budget, according to local House representatives, include pay raises for teachers averaging 4.7 percent, across-the-board raises for rank-and-file state employees of at least 1.5 percent, and a 1.6 percent bonus for retired state employees.

“The 4.7 percent average raise for teachers is significant,” Goodman said. “Although we are still not at the national average, we are moving in the right direction.”

While the increases are weighted toward middle-career and veteran instructors, Rep. Ken Waddell, a former teacher himself, said he would still like to see more attention given to teachers with the most years of service.

“Veteran teachers and state employees are still not getting what they should,” he said.

Rep. Charles Graham, also a former educator, called the budget “good for teachers and state employees.”

“But I would like to have seen a little more support for our retired state employees,” he said.

According to Graham, the budget includes $165,000 for completion of the horse barns and stalls being constructed at the Southeastern North Carolina Agricultural Events Center located just outside of Lumberton. He said the money will be used to install electricity in the two barns, each of which houses 50 stalls.

The budget also lists Lumberton as receiving $94,340 in grant money for downtown revitalization.

Rep. Garland Pierce said that he is glad to see that the budget includes The University of North Carolina at Pembroke as one of three state university system schools that will see tuition rates for in-state students drop to $500 per semester as of fall 2018 and $2,500 for out-of-state students. The other two university’s to see their tuition drop to $500 per semester for in-state students are Elizabeth City State University and Western Carolina University.

“This budget does a lot for education,” he said.

Pierce said that Robeson County residents will also benefit from more funding being allotted to state agencies such as the Department of Social Services and mental health.

“These funds will trickle down to the local departments,” he said.

Garland Pierce
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_Garland-Pierce_cmyk-1.jpgGarland Pierce

By Bob Shiles

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Bob Shiles can be reached at 910-416-5165.