Gov. McCrory says he’ll sign budget deal

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – The latest on the North Carolina state budget compromise: (all times local)

11:35 a.m.

Gov. Pat McCrory says he’ll sign the two-year budget once North Carolina legislators give it to him because all the things he sought inside it outweigh the items he dislikes.

McCrory also said in an interview Thursday there is no way he would threaten shutting down normal government operations through a budget veto because of some disagreements involving a budget that spends well over $21 billion this fiscal year. A temporary spending measure expires Friday night. The budget is 11 weeks late.

The governor says he still doesn’t like how legislators’ spending plan expands the sales tax to cover more services, then distributes proceeds disproportionately to small and rural counties. But he says it’s better than an earlier plan in which urban and destination counties would have lost tax revenue.

10:15 a.m.

Gov. Pat McCrory says he’ll sign the North Carolina state budget bill negotiated by fellow Republicans at the legislature this summer when it reaches his desk.

McCrory told reporters of his decision Thursday morning.

His announcement comes hours before the House was expected to debate and hold the first of two required votes on the compromise agreement with the Senate. Senators held their affirmative votes Tuesday and Wednesday.

McCrory told the AP last weekend he had concerns about provisions that would expand the number of transactions subject to the sales tax. Local tax proceeds largely would be distributed to assist small and rural counties.

4 a.m.

It’s now the House’s turn to decide on the two-year North Carolina state budget drawn up by Republican negotiators over the past several weeks.

The House scheduled a vote late Thursday on the plan that spends nearly $22 billion annually through mid-2017. An affirmative vote then would lead to a second and final vote early Friday morning.

The Senate already voted for the budget Tuesday and Wednesday. Three Democrats joined all Republicans in supporting the measure on the final Senate vote. House Speaker Tim Moore said this week he also expected bipartisan support.

The measure should be in Gov. Pat McCrory’s hands by Friday morning. He’ll be asked to sign the bill into law.

McCrory doesn’t have much time to decide before a temporary spending measure expires Friday night.

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