NCDP Chair Anderson Clayton released the following statement on Governor Cooper’s proposed budget: 

“Governor Cooper’s proposed budget recognizes the historic opportunity our state has to make significant investments in our students, workforce, and families so that every North Carolinian can thrive. This budget would ensure a sound, basic education by raising teacher pay and securing funding for critical staff like school bus drivers and counselors, prioritize healthier and stronger families including $1 billion to address the mental health crisis, bolster our workforce from job training to quality child care, support our state employees who power essential state services, and implement tax breaks for middle class families who continue to feel the squeeze of rising costs. North Carolina has a duty to its people to address the pressing issues of our time and this budget seizes the moment to make our state First In Opportunity for generations.”