On March 5, Governor McCrory released his budget proposal for the 2015-17 biennium. Statewide general funding would increase 2.1 percent in 2015-16 to $21.5 billion, and by 3.3 percent in 2016-17 to $22.2 billion. General funds for K-12 education would rise 4.2 percent to $8.4 billion in 2015-16, and rise another 0.1 percent in 2016-17. 

The proposal would provide funding to support the governor’s priorities, including: $41.8 million in each year to raise starting teacher salaries to $35,000 per year; $64.8 million in each year to provide teacher salary increases; $100.2 million in each year to support growth in student enrollment and fund more than 1,400 additional teaching positions; $35 million in each year for textbooks, instructional supplies and equipment; and $15 million over the biennium to implement teacher performance pay.