RALEIGH, N.C. -- An outside group's financial appraisal of North Carolina's liquor system is being put on hold, leading Gov. Beverly Perdue to postpone giving a recommendation on privatization to lawmakers in the upcoming session.

The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission said Friday that Chairman Jon Williams and a Chicago firm are about to suspend work calculating the value of the state-owned distribution system and hundreds of local retail stores.

The report was expected by the end of April. But a commission spokeswoman says potential ABC law changes being considered by the Legislature may affect the valuation process, which will resume
later.

Perdue spokeswoman Chrissy Pearson says the governor wants the valuation report before making a decision on privatization.

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