When Pat McCrory was governor, the GOP super majority changed budget protocol and made the state budget a biennial process. In an odd-numbered year, a budget is set forth to encompass the next two fiscal years. Amendments to the budget can be made in even-numbered years. Furthermore, if a budget is not passed, then the state automatically reverts to the previous budget’s recurring spending levels.

More specifically (from the NC Budget and Management site):

So, when someone like Phil Berger tries to frame the narrative that they are going to give an “X”% average raise in teacher salaries, he is not really being thoroughly forthcoming.

In fact, it is a gross misinterpretation of the reality.

On the surface, what Berger & Co. would be claiming to the public has a timing problem.

But many people forget that when budgets are written for the state, they are biennial budgets: two-year budgets.

When teachers were said to be getting a “X” % pay raise in “this budget,” it meant it is over a two-year period. That “full” raise would not be occurring immediately. Plus, any budget  can be amended in a future session to offset anything passed in the previous summer.

That makes that whole narrative of giving a “X” % even more misleading. Throw in some inflation, some cost of living  increases, higher health care premiums, and… well, you get the picture.