The General Assembly returned to Raleigh this week for the first full week of the Short Session, and legislators made no announcement of a budget. For state employees and retirees still waiting on raises and cost-of-living adjustments that did not come last year, the clock is ticking.

House Bill 1054 was filed this week, including pay raises for teachers and state employees, as well as a cost-of-living adjustment for retirees. While the bill signals that some legislators recognize the urgency, standalone bills like this rarely pass on their own. Pay raises and COLAs will ultimately be decided in a full budget negotiation — and that work has not yet begun.

The vacancy crisis facing correctional staff got statewide attention this week when WSOC in Charlotte profiled the staffing challenges at facilities across North Carolina. SEANC District 11 member Kim Martin, who works at Piedmont Correctional Institution, and SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins both spoke with the station about what understaffing looks like on the ground.

"This is not one of those jobs where, if no one shows up, you can just close the doors," Martin said. "You've got to have people there."

This week on The SEANC View Podcast, we sit down with Secretary of State Elaine Marshall to discuss her agency's staffing shortages amid a surge in new business formations. We also discuss the need for better funding across state government, and her long career in public service.

On Wednesday, May 6, SEANC members will gather at the State Capitol to deliver a direct message to their legislators: state employees and retirees deserve a budget with raises and benefits that keep pace with the cost of living.

Whether you are joining us or following from home, our Lobby Day website has everything you need. Attendees can find room numbers and phone numbers for any legislator in the building, review talking points, and get parking and schedule information — all in one place.

Can't make it in person? You can still take action. Send a message directly to your legislators by clicking the button below, urging them to pass a budget that includes real raises, cost-of-living adjustments, and State Health Plan protections. It takes about 60 seconds.

Follow live updates throughout the day at @seanc on X and use #SEANCLobbyDay on anything you post. We hope to see you on Wednesday.