Raleigh – State Sen. Corbin (R-Macon) and state Rep. Gillespie (R-Macon) secured critical improvements for Cherokee County in the compromise state budget approved by state Senate on Nov. 17, and the state House and governor on Thursday.
The budget represents a bipartisan compromise negotiated by the Senate, House and Governor’s Office. The total allocation for Cherokee County is $23,206,908, according to a release from the state.
Corbin said, “I am very happy with the passage of this budget. We were able to get more in this budget than has ever been included for western North Carolina.”
The state budget sets in motion a 10-year, $16.1 billion cash infrastructure and capital plan. It also includes a sweeping tax cut that reduces the personal income tax rate to 3.99 percent over six years and increases the zero-tax bracket to $25,500 for married filers. It increases the child tax deduction by $500 per child and eliminates the state income tax on military pensions.
Gillespie said, “I am thankful that a budget agreement was met, it provides funding for projects that are critical to the 120th District.”
The state budget includes $100 million in recurring funds for a new state-funded teacher salary supplement for lower-wealth counties to help them recruit and retain high-quality teachers. I am happy to announce that under the formula we constructed, all counties in this district are getting very significant and permanent pay supplements for our teachers. In Cherokee County, the recurring annual supplement is $2,037 per teacher. On top of this, teachers will receive an average 5 percent raise, up to $2,800 in bonuses, and step increases.
In addition to supporting the sweeping tax cut and infrastructure plan, Corbin and Gillespie successfully advocated for:
- $125,000 providing a grant to the Town of Andrews for Valley River fishing and canoeing;
- $1,200,000 that provides a grant to Cherokee County for a new main Emergency Medical Services station – commissioners did a walk-through of the old EMS station in Andrews on Friday afternoon;
- $500,000 grant for construction of a new EMS station in the western portion of the county;
- $1,091,797 for water, sewer upgrades;
- $115,111 for a health department grant;
- $20,175,000 to Tri-County Community College providing a grant for a new cultural and historical engagement center, equipment for the dental assisting program, equipment for the public safety administration training program, equipment for the truck driver training program and a new workforce solutions education center.