The raises are agreed to. The votes are there. The only thing standing between you and a pay increase is a budget that the legislature has not finished.
North Carolina's fiscal year began last July. More than a year later, the legislature is still operating without a completed budget — and every day it stays that way, the pay raises both chambers agreed to last month remain out of reach. Lawmakers set their own deadline for this month. By all indications, they will miss it.
This isn't a small inconvenience. For state employees, the delay has a real cost. The cost of living has risen sharply over the past several years. Grocery bills, rent, gas, healthcare — none of those have waited for the legislature to act. Your pay has. Vacancy rates across state agencies are climbing because North Carolina cannot compete for workers at current pay levels. The employees who stay are doing more with less, every single day.
Retirees have their own version of this story. With no cost-of-living adjustment since 2017, pension buying power has eroded year after year while the legislature has declined to act.
The framework agreement announced last month is a start. But a framework does not pay anyone. A framework does not fill a vacant position. A framework does not offset what inflation has taken from you.
Your legislators need to hear from you directly. Tell them the delay is unacceptable. Tell them that state employees and retirees have waited long enough. Tell them to stop the stalling, finish the budget, and deliver the raises they promised.
It takes two minutes. The people making this decision answer to you. Make sure they know it.&nbsp;

Pass the Budget. Pay State Employees and Retirees.

I am writing as a North Carolina state employee to urge you to pass the state budget immediately.
State agencies across North Carolina are struggling to fill positions because we cannot compete on pay. The longer the budget remains unfinished, the longer those vacancies go unfilled — and the harder it becomes for the employees who remain to do their jobs and serve the public.
Raises that exist only in a framework agreement do nothing to recruit or retain workers. We need a signed budget, and we need it now. Every week of further delay costs North Carolina the state employees it depends on.
Please act.

End the Delay and Pass the Budget

State Employees Association of North Carolina

I have dedicated years of my career to serving the people of North Carolina. I am writing to ask you to finish your work and pass the state budget.
I have watched my buying power erode while the legislature has failed to act. The raises in the budget framework are a step in the right direction — but they mean nothing until a budget is actually passed. Meanwhile, inflation has not paused, my costs have not paused, and my family has not paused waiting for relief.
North Carolina's state employees have held up our end of the bargain. I am asking you to hold up yours.
Pass the budget.

Please pass a budget now!

Pass the budget immediately

I am a North Carolina state employee, and I am writing to ask you to pass the state budget without further delay.
I understand that legislative leaders reached a framework agreement last month. But a framework does not pay my bills. Until a final budget is signed into law, the raises both chambers have agreed to exist only on paper — and I continue to fall further behind.
The cost of living has risen significantly since I was hired. Every month without a budget is another month my pay fails to keep pace. I serve the people of North Carolina. I am asking you to serve me by finishing the job.
Please pass the budget now.