RALEIGH – Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday submitted a budget proposal to the General Assembly, six days before the legislative body is set to return for a short session on Sept. 2. Cooper said his proposal comes at the state faces the unprecedented challenge of a once-in-a-lifetime threat of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the state’s economy.
“Today I am sharing a recommended budget that offers support for a determined North Carolina,” said Gov. Cooper. “The budget I propose takes on the challenges of today while building for the promise of tomorrow. We have to rise to the occasion of this pandemic response now and focus on ways to emerge from this crisis stronger than before.”
Senate Republicans, led by budget writers Harry Brown (R-Onslow), Kathy Harrington (R-Gaston), Brent Jackson (R-Sampson), however, warned last week that “A budget proposal from the Governor the week before we come into session is pointless.”
“Proposing budgets when the state is flush is easy, but making tough calls during a recession is what demands real leadership and we’re moving ahead with final plans on what to propose to the full legislature,” the senators said.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
