NC governor signs $34B budget with teacher pay raises, Charlotte penalty

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed a $34 billion budget with increased education funding and teacher pay raises, while imposing a financial penalty on Charlotte for withdrawing support from the I-77 widening project. The budget raises starting teacher pay from $41,000 to $48,000 but offers smaller increases for veteran teachers, sparking concerns about equity. Charlotte city council members have 90 days to reverse their decision to avoid repaying $60 million in state funds.