When the North Carolina House approved its version of the state budget early Friday, neither of Rowan’s state representatives were completely happy with the final result.

Among the measures contained in the House’s budget were state-wide teacher raises, a historic tax credit program, a 30 percent increase in Department of Motor Vehicles fees and funding for body cameras among law enforcement officers. State Reps. Carl Ford, R-76, and Harry Warren, R-77, cited multiple positive aspects of the budget when asked, but mentioned concerns about specific parts of the process and some of the included provisions.

Warren was among the 93 representatives who voted for the budget’s approval, but said he considered voting against it because of certain included provisions. Among Warren’s concerns were that multiple bills proposed or passed earlier in the session were included in the budget. Ford was among the 23 who voted against the budget, but said he felt positively about multiple measures.

The budget now heads to the State Senate, where significant changes have already been proposed.

Both of Rowan’s representatives touted the fact that teacher pay raises are included in the House’s budget. Pay increases would vary. Salaries for the least experienced, however, would go up 6 percent, according to the house’s budget. Warren said the raise would keep the legislature’s promise to raise minimum pay to $35,000.

“Education is always one of the key factors because it consumes about 57 percent of the budget,” Warren said. “We had to follow through on our commitment to raise the minimum pay up to $35,000.”

Ford, likewise, said education-related expenditures in the budget were needed.

“I didn’t have a problem with any part of the education section, and it’s a very good part of the budget,” he said.

Additional pay raises are included in the House’s budget for state employees, which both Rowan legislators said they agree with.

Both legislators, however, said they were unhappy with the inclusion of historic preservation tax credits in the budget.

When contacted Friday, Cultural Resources Secretary Susan Kluttz said she was “extremely pleased” with the house’s version of the budget, adding that the tax credits were exactly the proposal Gov. Pat McCrory had asked the legislature to approve. However, the exact percentages developers would be reimbursed is lower than the rate that was part of the program when it expired in 2014.

Both Warren and Ford voted for a bill earlier this year that contained similar historic tax credit provisions to the budget’s version. The point of contention for both legislators was that historic tax credits were included in the budget when the House had already passed a bill through to the Senate. The bill hasn’t been seriously considered in the Senate. Some senators prefer municipalities take a larger responsibility for funding historic rehabilitation.

“It’s even aggravated people that were having parties for the tax credit,” Ford said. “Even they had a problem with it.”

Warren also took issue with other tax credits that were included in the budget. He used a credit for renewable energy as an example.

“There were certain things already taken care of legislatively that popped back up in the budget,” he said. “It wasn’t that I wasn’t supportive of the credits. It was the process.”

Both of Rowan’s representatives said the historic preservation tax credits are likely one of the first items the State Senate will cut out of its version.

An increase in DMV fees is one area where Rowan’s legislators differed. While Warren said an increase was overdue — he said it had been several years since the last one — Ford said the 30 percent increase was far too steep. Ford said it was one of the main reasons he voted against the budget.

“It’s going to be sticker shock for the citizens,” he said.

A learner’s permit, for example, will go from $15 to $19.50. A restoration fee for a drivers license will go from $100 to $130.

Ford specifically focused on commercial truck drivers as a reason for his criticism of the increase. He said the increase would adversely affect trucking companies.

A final measure that could affect Rowan is one of dozens of amendments to the budget that was discussed before a final vote was taken. Amendment No. 41 to the budget would provide grants to local law enforcement agencies for body-worn cameras.

The amendment would provide grants not to exceed $100,000 to law enforcement agencies. The local agencies however, would be required to double the grant amount with matching funds. For example, if the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office received a $50,000 grant to pay for body cameras, it would have to provide $100,000 in local, matching funds.

Both Warren and Ford voted for the amendment.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.