Page 3 - The April 30 2026 Edition of The Fayetteville Press Newspaper

The Fayetteville Press April 30, 2026 Edition Page 3a

The Governor's April Column: Keeping North Carolina Strong

(RALEIGH) This month Governor Josh Stein is highlighting in- Creating Good Jobs for All North Carolinians
vestments in his recommended budget that would build on North A strong economy depends on a strong workforce. Since Janu-
Carolina’s success story and keep the state strong. Media outlets are ary 1, 2025, we’ve announced more than 41,000 new jobs. These are
invited to publish the column below from Governor Stein. good jobs with good wages that support a family. Now, we’ve got to
North Carolinians have achieved a lot to make us proud. We’re not only grow the economy but also make sure that it works for more
the top state for business, economic development, and workforce de- people. We need to connect people to the knowledge and skills they
velopment, and we announced more jobs here last year than any year in need to succeed in an ever-changing economy.
history. We’re the #1 state where people from other states are moving. That means investing in community colleges, apprenticeships,
This success didn’t happen by accident. It reflects decades of thought- and short-term training programs that lead directly to good-paying
ful investment in people through education, infrastructure, and opportu- jobs. Not every path requires a four-year degree, but every North
nity. Carolinian deserves a pathway to success.
Investing in Our Kids and Our Future My budget also supports loans for small businesses, investments
If we’re going to continue to build on our long-term economic in rural transformation projects, and construction of more workforce
success, we must start by investing in our public schools. Our children housing.
are our future, so investing in them must be our greatest priority. Yet we Building a Safer, Healthier State
are ranked 49th in the country in terms of how much we spend on each We must also ensure that our communities are safe and healthy.
student’s education – even South Carolina and Mississippi are out-in- That starts with supporting law enforcement through better pay, re-
vesting us. And our beginning teachers can move across the border to cruitment incentives, and modern tools. It means addressing behav-
any of North Carolina’s neighboring states and make more money. ioral health needs, expanding crisis response teams, and investing in
We must do better. My budget would raise teacher salaries to the treatment for substance use disorders. And it means fully funding
highest in the Southeast, eliminate pay plateaus, and restore master’s Governor Josh Stein Medicaid, which serves more than 3 million North Carolinians.
pay. It improves student learning through expanding the Advanced Teach- To make all of these things happen, we need to modernize gov-
ing Roles program and strengthening literacy efforts. It also prioritizes Contact: govpress@nc.gov ernment. Let’s improve services. Let’s be efficient with taxpayer dol-
student safety and well-being by increasing funding for school safety, lars. And let’s support the public employees who make it all happen.
mental health staff, and school repairs. And it tackles childhood hunger who need it most.
with free school breakfast and expanded summer nutrition programs. At the same time, we must be fiscally responsible. Con- Keeping North Carolina Strong
Addressing the Cost of Living tinuing pre-programmed tax cuts that disproportionately ben- The choices before us are clear. We can invest in our children,
Families are feeling the strain of rising costs: child care, housing, efit the wealthy risks creating a $5 billion shortfall and forc- families, and future, or we can fall behind.
groceries, and more. My budget responds with targeted tax relief: ex- ing devastating cuts to essential services. North Carolina al- We cannot afford to miss this moment.
panding child care tax credits, supporting working families, creating a ready has one of the lowest tax burdens in the country. We My budget is about opportunity. It’s about ensuring that if you
back-to-school sales tax holiday, and increasing the standard deduction. shouldn't raise taxes, but we should pause the autopilot tax work hard, where you come from will never limit how far you can go.
These are practical steps that put money back into the pockets of those cuts and protect what makes this state strong. Let’s deliver on that promise.

Making North Carolina’s grid

stronger and more resilient.

That’s why we’re upgrading poles and lines, installing self-healing
technology and using new innovations to assess damage more quickly
– so your power comes back on faster than ever.

All while keeping costs as low as possible.

duke-energy.com/NCFuture