The Senate budget also makes unprecedented investments in education and mental health programs, caps the gas tax to help business and families cope with rising fuel prices, and raises the minimum wage to $6.15, a dollar more than its current level.

“This is a responsible budget that moves our state forward by growing our economy, improving education, and helping North Carolina’s families,” said Sen. John Snow.

The budget dedicates about 58 percent of the state’s resources to education, including an average 8 percent pay raise for teachers, $90 million in ABC bonuses for schools that meet academic goals, and increased financial aid for college students. The budget also dedicates lottery proceeds to reduced class sizes and prekindergarten programs.

The Senate’s budget, which was approved Wednesday with bipartisan support, also:
• Provides mental-health and substance-abuse programs with more than $105 million in new funding, including money to replace federal budget cuts and bonds to update the state’s mental hospitals.
• Strengthens economic growth with a tax reduction for more than 30,000 small business owners, $10 million for the “One NC” business-recruitment fund that has generated more than 18,000 jobs since 2001, and replenishing the Highway Trust Fund to improve the state’s roads and highway infrastructure.
• Improves children’s health with $14 million in new funding for Smart Start, funds to employ 90 school nurses, and funds to expand vaccinations for young children.
• Makes families more secure with electronic monitoring of the state’s most serious sex offenders, 90 new assistant district attorneys to the court system to reduce case backlogs, and a new emergency fund to improve the state’s disaster readiness and response.
• Protects the environment by implementing coastal habitat protection, improving water quality and protecting another 2,000 acres of state parkland.
• Continues fiscal responsibility by falling under the governor’s spending cap, setting aside more than $500 million in reserve funds, and improving oversight and accountability in the use of state funds.

“North Carolina is ranked as one of the nation’s most fiscally responsible states, and this budget continues our commitment to responsible budgeting while setting the right priorities to help our state move forward,” Snow said.