Sen. Berger and Rep. Pyrtle Secure Critical Improvements for Rockingham County
Budget includes more than $39.4 million for Rockingham County
Funding addresses much-needed infrastructure improvements
Raleigh, N.C. — Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and Rep. A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. (R-Rockingham) secured critical improvements for Rockingham County 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 $39.4 million for local projects and help our schools hire and retain more high-quality teachers.”
Rep. Pyrtle said, “This state budget will make a tremendous impact on Rockingham County. It provides millions of dollars in infrastructure improvements and allows our hard-working residents to keep more of their paycheck in their pockets. The General Assembly’s dedication to passing responsible budgets provides us this historic opportunity to invest in our community so it can continue to be a place where families and businesses relocate to. I’m excited to see the projects supported in this budget come to fruition.”
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.
In addition to supporting the sweeping tax cut and infrastructure plan, Sen. Berger and Rep. Pyrtle secured the following funding for Rockingham County:
- $500,000 for the city of Eden
- $3.2 million for the city of Reidsville for water and sewer projects
- $550,000 to purchase land for the Mayo River State Park
- $1 million for the town of Mayodan
- $250,000 for Rockingham County
- $10 million for water and sewer projects in Rockingham County
- $2 million for Rockingham County Community College
- $7 million for the improvements to the Shiloh Airport in Rockingham 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
- $300,000 for UNC Rockingham
- $250,000 for the town of Wentworth
- $1.1 million for the Eastern Triad Workforce Development in Rockingham County
- $250,000 for the Free Clinic of Rockingham County
- $750,000 for the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Center
- $167,374 for a local health department grant for Rockingham County
Gov. Roy Cooper signed the budget into law on Thursday, Nov. 18.
