With little action or public progress this week, top Republican lawmakers signaled that the stalemate could stretch budget negotiations into August or later. Complicating the timeline are upcoming political conferences that will take lead negotiators out of Raleigh.

The News & Observer reported that a deal could happen next week, but late summer is more likely. SEANC's lobbyists are hearing rumors that a deal isn't expected until the fall.

We continue hammering the need for a 5% raise each of the next two years, a significant bonus to recruit and retain workers, and a meaningful cost-of-living adjustment for retirees.

SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins weighed in on the paid parental leave for state employees that took effect on July 1. "This parental leave is the kind of benefit we would expect not in a social policy bill but in an overall budget bill package along with a 5% raise each year and a significant bonus to retain state employees who are leaving in droves," said Watkins. "A focus on family is imperative to keeping younger workers, and the single most important aspect of that is lowering the dependent coverage cost of the State Health Plan. Treasurer Folwell tried to get this done by setting a reasonable reimbursement rate for hospitals rather than the current secret pricing policy. Politicians on both sides of the political aisle fought the Treasurer on that, so many state employees still work one week a month just to pay for their kids' healthcare. You can't keep workers by fighting to preserve secrecy at the expense of families."

Please be sure to contact your legislators to ask them to support meaningful raises and bonuses, and cost-of-living adjustments for retirees.