Governor Roy Cooper released his budget recommendation for coronavirus relief across the state ahead of next week’s General Assembly meeting.

Details on the COVID-19 budget response package were shared at a press conference Friday by the governor and the State Budget Director Charlie Perusse. The $1.4 billion proposal directs funds from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also called the CARES Act. Cooper said the recommendation was made after consulting state legislators from both parties, saying the amounts may vary between his recommendation, the state House budget and the state Senate budget.

“We have been in daily contact with legislators of both parties for at least the last three weeks,” said Perusse.

The governor’s recommendation is aiming to address three specific categories: immediate public health and safety, schools and core state government services, and small businesses and local governments.

Regarding public health, the proposal would allocate $313 million, including $75 million for increased testing, tracing and tracking trends of the coronavirus. The purchasing and building up of personal protection equipment supplies across the state would be part of this section, said Perusse.

$740.4 million would be slated for the continued operations of public schools and state government services, according to the proposal.

The governor’s recommended budget response package also slates $375 million for small business and local government assistance. $75 million would go toward small business assistance through the non-profit Golden LEAF, while the remaining $300 million would be put toward funding local governments and their services.

“We know that people are hurting, businesses are struggling, and local governments are facing severe shortages. That’s why we have to act now to get resources in the hands of people and organizations that provide vital support,” said Cooper.

Cooper indicated an expansion of Medicaid would not be included, one of the elements he strongly advocated for last June when he vetoed the Republican-drawn budget. No complete state budget was passed before the 2019-2020 fiscal school year as Cooper and GOP lawmakers were at a stalemate over the expansion, as well as teacher pay increases and school construction. The impasse continued in January after the Senate failed to pass a veto override of Cooper’s decision.

Senate leader and Republican lawmaker Phil Berger said in an interview with the Associated Press another override vote of Cooper’s veto would not be held again, saying the spending in the budget could not be supported now that COVID-19 has affected all levels of the state’s economy.

The North Carolina General Assembly is scheduled to meet beginning at noon on Tuesday.

Photo via NC Department of Public Safety.

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