Sen. Berger and Rep. Hall Secure Critical Improvements for Stokes, Surry, and Rockingham
Budget includes more than $59.7 million for Stokes County, more than $15 million for Surry County, and more than $39.4 for Rockingham County
Funding addresses much-needed infrastructure improvements
Raleigh, N.C. — Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and Rep. Kyle Hall (R-Stokes) secured critical improvements for Rockingham, Stokes, and Surry counties in the compromise state budget passed by the General Assembly this week. The compromise state budget reflects considerable concessions to Democrats.
“After months of frank and productive negotiations with the Governor, I’m proud to see the compromise budget pass. This is a great budget for our state and for our community,” Sen. Berger said. “Over the past decade, North Carolina Republicans have enacted smart, restrained budgets. Because of that, we’re now able to provide more than $114 million for local projects and help our schools hire and retain more high-quality teachers.”
Rep. Hall, who is a chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said, “This budget will have a positive impact on the lives of all North Carolinians. For 10 years the General Assembly has worked methodically to enact responsible budgets. That philosophy has led to residents keeping more of their hard-earned money while also funding critical improvements to infrastructure in the district. I’m proud of this budget and look forward to seeing its impact in Stokes, Surry, and Rockingham counties.”
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% 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.
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. Rockingham County is set to receive $1,371 per teacher, for more than $1.3 million in additional teacher supplements. Stokes County will receive $1,827 per teacher, for more than $950,000 in additional teacher supplements. Surry County will receive $1,405 per teacher, for more than $1.2 million in additional teacher supplements.
In addition to supporting the sweeping tax cut and infrastructure plan, Sen. Berger and Rep. Hall secured the following funding for Stokes, Surry, and Rockingham counties:
- $1 million for infrastructure projects in the city of King, Walnut Cove, and Stokes County
- $40.3 million for sewer and water projects in King, Walnut Cove, and Danbury
- $500,000 for the city of Eden
- $1.5 million for Mt. Airy for water and sewer projects
- $3.2 million for the city of Reidsville for water and sewer projects
- $4 million for the Vade Mecum at Hanging Rock State Park
- $1.3 million for the Home Creek Historic Farm
- $2.9 million for improvements to the Mt. Airy/Surry County Airport
- $362,500 for Surry County
- $1.75 million for repairs and renovations to athletic facilities in Surry County
- $1.75 million for repairs and renovations to athletic facilities in Stokes County
- $550,000 to purchase land for the Mayo River State Park
- $1 million for the town of Mayodan
- $4 million for improvements to the Bean Shoals Trail in Pilot Mountain
- $250,000 for Rockingham County
- $10 million for water and sewer projects in Rockingham County
- $2 million for Rockingham County Community College
- $4 million for Surry County Community College
- $7 million for the improvements to the Shiloh Airport in Rockingham County
- $250,000 for Stokes County
- $2 million for repairs and renovations to the Stokes County Courthouse
- $10 million for healthcare infrastructure improvements in Stokes County
- $250,000 for the town of Stoneville
- $8.35 million for water and sewer projects in the town of Madison
- $3.5 million for the Lindsey Bridge River Park in Madison
- $1 million for infrastructure improvements in the town of Pilot Mountain
- $325,000 for streambank restoration in Pilot Mountain
- $300,000 for UNC Rockingham
- $250,000 for the town of Wentworth
- $1.1 million for the Eastern Triad Workforce Development in Rockingham County
- $625,000 for Mt. Airy Greenway and river restoration
- $325,000 for Chinquapin Creek in Pilot Mountain
- $250,000 for the Free Clinic of Rockingham County
- $300,000 for the Surry Medical Ministries Clinic
- $500,000 for the Partners Health for Surry County addiction treatment
- $750,000 for the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Center
- $167,374 for a local health department grant for Rockingham County
- $129,325 for a local health department grant for Stokes County
- $151,972 for a local health department grant for Surry County
Gov. Roy Cooper signed the budget into law on Thursday, Nov. 18.
