RALEIGH (AP) — Senate budget writers agree that with no state budget in place and less than a week to go before the North Carolina government year ends, it’s time to make contingency plans.
The Senate Appropriations Committee voted Tuesday for a stop-gap spending measure that would keep funding government operations through July as budget talks continue. The full Senate and House would have to agree on the temporary budget extension before sending it to Gov. Pat McCrory for his approval.
The proposal is needed because legislative leaders haven’t yet negotiated a final budget for the next two years. They’re trying to first reach a deal on a tax overhaul.
Tuesday’s measure also tells the state budget office to find $45 million in savings to pay for a Medicaid shortfall.