Senator Corbin and Representative Gillespie Announce Significant Investments for Macon County Upon Passage of State Budget

PRESS RELEASE (09-22-2023)

NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

SENATOR KEVIN CORBIN AND REPRESENTATIVE KARL E. GILLESPIE

Raleigh, NC – After months of diligent budget negotiations, on Friday, September 22, 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly passed the biennium state budget with bipartisan support. The budget provides raises for state employees and teachers, substantial infrastructure funding, and much more. 

“This budget represents the culmination of several months of negotiations between the House and the Senate and builds upon the historic investments passed in the previous budget,” stated Representative Gillespie. “Critical appropriations are included for education, state employees, teacher raises, and much more. I am also pleased to report that critical funding for our district was included in the final agreement. The budget now heads to the Governor’s desk and I encourage the Governor to sign this responsible bipartisan spending plan into law.” 

“Rep. Gillespie and I worked jointly to get the appropriations for the district,” stated Senator Corbin. “We are always happy to see these kinds of funds come to far Western North Carolina. It is our job not only to represent our district but to make sure we receive our fair share of funding. This budget certainly does that and we are very pleased.”

Highlights of the budget include:

• 7.4% raise for teachers.

• 7% raise for state employees.

• 4% cost-of-living bonus for retired state employees.

• Accelerates reduction in personal income tax rate to 3.99% in 2026.

• Makes all students eligible for private K-12 school tuition assistance.

• $709 million for school construction.

• $10 million for school health positions, such as counselors and nurses.

• $70 million for school safety grants.

• $9 million to cover school lunches for low-income students.

• $25 million for farmland preservation.

• Doubles the period drivers licenses are valid from eight to sixteen years.

• Requires independent study on modernizing and privatizing DMV.

• Prohibits COVID-19 vaccine mandates for state agencies, local governments and public schools and universities.

• Stops Green New Deal and cap-and-trade energy mandates.

Macon County appropriations include:

• $10,000,000 to Southwestern Community College for the construction of a regional indoor firearms training facility.

• $5,000,000 to the Town of Highlands to complete dredging and restoration of Mirror Lake.

• $5,000,000 to the Town of Highlands for water/sewer upgrades.

• $400,000 to the Town of Franklin for capital costs and equipment associated with the fire substation construction project.

• $352,000 to Macon County for general projects.