The General Assembly has completed its work on the budget session that began on May 14.
After 2½ months of contentious debate that include threats of a government shutdown, vetoes from the governor and walk-outs during House and Senate negotiations, legislators finally hammered out a $21.5 billion state budget.
The major disagreements were on teacher pay
increases, environmental issues and Medicaid spending and reform.
The
Senate passed a budget package, sent it to the House and adjourned until Thursday, Aug. 14, when lawmakers will return to address any
potential vetoes by the governor.
The House concurred with the Senate
budget two days later and passed a different adjournment resolution
putting the session in limbo until an adjournment resolution is agreed upon by
both chambers.
Both chambers did agree to return on Nov. 17 for a special session to address Medicaid reform and the environmental issue
facing North Carolina on recent coal ash spills.
