Lawmakers may need even more time for North Carolina budget

By GARY D. ROBERTSON
Associated Press

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — Republican leaders in the General Assembly are running out of time to complete a budget before another deadline to pass a spending plan that’s almost two months late.

Key House and Senate budget negotiators said Monday they’ve been exchanging offers on how to divvy up spending $21.7 billion this fiscal year among agencies.

The budget was supposed to be done by July 1. Lawmakers have passed two temporary spending measures for more time to work out a deal. The second measure expires Aug. 31.

Sen. Tom Apodaca of Hendersonville says he doesn’t think it’s humanly possible to get a budget passed in a week. That would require a third so-called “continuing resolution.”

Rep. Nelson Dollar of Cary says he wants to see how much progress is made early this week.

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