Final North Carolina Budget Changes Speeding Toward Votes

The North Carolina General Assembly is making quick work of approving adjustments to the second year of the two-year state government budget.

House and Senate Republicans reached an agreement on a nearly $24 billion plan more than a month before the new fiscal year begins July 1. They scheduled a joint budget committee to discuss the details Tuesday, less than two weeks after the annual session began.

Both chambers expected floor votes on the final package later this week before the budget bill heads to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s desk.

The full plan was released Monday night. It includes 6.5 percent teacher pay raises on average, $15 million for prison security upgrades and previously announced initiatives to lure large companies to the state and study little-known contaminants in state rivers.

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NC Legislature Goes Home, Still Without Budget Resolution

The North Carolina General Assembly went home on Thursday for a brief respite from Raleigh, still without the Republicans’ original two-year budget bill enacted and an uncertain path forward on Medicaid after nine months of legislating this year. The House and Senate adjourned its session after several hours of floor and committee debate and votes […]

Dems Cry 'Cowardice' as GOP Overrides N Carolina Budget Veto

Republicans in control of a nearly half-empty North Carolina House chamber on Wednesday held an unexpected vote to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the state budget bill, prompting accusations of trickery and deception from Cooper and fellow Democrats. Republican leaders had spent months trying to persuade enough Democrats to meet the threshold for an […]

GOP's Final Budget Gets Initial Approval from Legislature

North Carolina legislators gave preliminary approval on Wednesday to a final budget agreement hashed out between Republican leaders that failed to include the top-tier negotiating appeals from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. The House and Senate voted separately Wednesday to approve a two-year spending plan. The tallies were largely along party lines, with four Senate Democrats and […]

Senate Budget gets Final OK, Negotiations with House Next

Negotiations between Republican legislative budget-writers will now begin in earnest after the Senate completed voting Friday for its version of a two-year spending plan for North Carolina government. The chamber voted 30-16 for the legislation, which would spend $23.9 billion in the next fiscal year starting July 1 — just like a version written by […]

NC Senate gives Tentative Approval to Republican Budget

The North Carolina Senate tentatively agreed Thursday to a state spending plan for the next two years written by Republicans, who kept to their decade-old formula of budgets with tax cuts, tempered spending growth and money being parked in reserves. After four hours of debate, the chamber voted 29-18 for the measure, which GOP leaders […]

Cooper to Veto Republican Budget Changes

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has vetoed the state budget adjustments approved by the Republican-dominated legislature. Cooper vetoed the measure Wednesday before announcing the move at a news conference. The nearly $24 billion plan came to his desk late last week, and he had until this Monday to act. Republicans have veto-proof majorities, and votes […]

As Deadline Nears, N Carolina Governor Wants to Talk Budget

By law Gov. Roy Cooper has until early next week to decide what to do about the North Carolina budget adjustments on his desk, but he’s apparently ready to talk about them in public. Cooper scheduled a Raleigh news conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss the budget. The Republican-controlled General Assembly gave its final approval late […]

Legislators Finalize Budget, Now Heads to Cooper

The General Assembly has given final legislative approval to North Carolina budget adjustments for the coming year. Now, Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper must decide whether to again formally challenge Republicans with his veto stamp. The House voted 66-44 on Friday for the $23.9 billion spending plan after close to two more hours of debate. Members […]

Budget Proposal Targets Durham-Orange Light Rail Funding

North Carolina Republican legislators unveiled their budget proposal late on Memorial Day. Durham Democratic state senator Floyd McKissick said that in three lines the budget “placed in jeopardy the future funding of the light rail system between Durham and Chapel Hill.” McKissick and other local elected officials have derided the budget and the process Republican […]

Final North Carolina Budget Changes Speeding Toward Votes

The North Carolina General Assembly is making quick work of approving adjustments to the second year of the two-year state government budget. House and Senate Republicans reached an agreement on a nearly $24 billion plan more than a month before the new fiscal year begins July 1. They scheduled a joint budget committee to discuss […]

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