2018-19 Biennial Budget Passed June 2018
The budget bill, SB 99, was released on the NCGA website on Monday, May 28. Because legislative leaders previously announced they will refuse any amendments, this budget was voted on without any adjustments. The bill was vetoed by Gov. Cooper on June 6, 2018. On June 7, 2018, the Senate voted to override Gov. Cooper’s veto. The House concurred on June 11, 2018. A technical correction will be used to fix some of the identified issues. See the full budget bill.
2018-2019 Budget Adjustments to the 2017-10 Biennial Budget
Teacher Pay
- $11.8 million is allocated to fund salary increases for teachers.
- The average teacher raise is 6.5%. T
- he teacher salary schedule starts at $3,500 per month and increases by $100 for each year of service until 15 years.
- Between years 15-24, teachers would earn $5,000 per month. This rate would be frozen there until teachers reach 25 years of service. Veteran teachers in years 15-24 of their career will not receive increases in base pay. At 25+ years, the monthly salary would be $5,200 per month. This budget eliminates $5 million dollars for veteran teacher bonuses.
Principal Pay
$12 million is allocated for a principal pay increase and tied to test performance. The base salary schedule for principals is determined by the average daily membership (ADM) and whether or not their school failed to meet, met, or exceeded growth.
2018-2019 Principal Annual Salary Schedule
| ADM | BASE | MET | Exceeded |
| 0-400 | $66,010 | $72,611 | $79,212 |
| 401-700 | $69,311 | $76,242 | $83,173 |
| 701-1000 | $72,611 | $79,872 | $87,133 |
| 1001 to 1300 | $75,911 | $83,503 | $91,094 |
| 1300+ | $79,212 | $87,133 | $95,054 |
Performance bonuses are also included and are awarded according to the Principal Bonus Schedule, calculated using schools’ A-F grades. Bonus levels are as follows:
Top 5% : $10,000, Top 10% : $7,500, Top 15% : $5,000 Top 20% : $2,500, Top 50% : $1,000
- Further, a principal who qualifies for a bonus and supervises a school with an overall school performance grade of D or F for a majority of the 2017-2018 school year qualifies for a bonus of twice the amount listed in the Principal Bonus Schedule.
- $418K is allocated for an assistant principal pay increase. The assistant principal salary schedule is equivalent to the base teacher salary plus 19%.
- $22.9 million is allocated to make the 4th-5th grade reading bonus program and the 4th-8th grade math bonus program recurring.
School Safety
- $35 million is allocated for the school safety package, though only $5 million is recurring.
- The funding goes to expand the SRO grant program, to expand the anonymous tip line, and to create new grants to support students in crisis, school safety training, safety equipment, and school mental health personnel.
- Includes $10 million of non-recurring funds transferred from the Dorothea Dix hospital fund.
- Most of the school safety program funding is non-recurring. Experts believe needs will continue.
Pre-K
What could have been used to fund approximately 1,000 more Pre-K slots was instead appropriated elsewhere. Over $75 million of federal funds were allocated to NC to expand Pre-K programs and of that, $50 million dollars was used to replace state funding.
Read more highlights of the budget in our 2018-19 Budget Summary fact sheet.