Submitted by Lee Dobson, Area Director, NC Government Affairs (GAO)

NC Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger indicated that the state will have a budget surplus of over $500 million on a budget of $22.5 billion.  While this projection is encouraging, our legislative asks remains high.  Our increase request will take the aide rate from $13.88 to $17.00 over two years, which is nearly a fifty million dollar appropriation.  To put things into perspective, last year there was a $425 budget surplus and our legislative ask was $3.6 million for nursing.  We continue to garner support for this much needed increase.  Watch for ways to get involved.