McCrory wants more money for substance abuse treatment, Zika prevention

Most of McCrory's proposals augment existing programs rather than propose any sweeping new approach. For example, he said he wants lawmakers to allow pharmacies to dispense Naloxone, a drug used to combat overdoses of prescription opioids or heroin, to anyone who asks. First responders have already been using it in the field to combat overdoses.

"People are living and dying based on their access to this drug," McCrory said.

In total, the governor gave a rough outline of how he might spend $50 million, a small slice of the roughly $21 billion state spending plan he will eventually send to lawmakers.

More than half of that $50 million would come in $30 million for new spending on mental health programs, including money for emergency housing and expanding case management – regular face-to-face support – for those with mental health problems.

His budget will also expand the number of slots available to those with Alzheimer's disease to receive Medicaid-funded treatment and expand by $2.5 million the amount of state funding to support those with developmental disabilities who live outside of institutions. McCrory says he will also ask lawmakers to ensure children with autism who are enrolled in Medicaid will receive the same behavioral therapy that the state recently required private insurers to provide.

Julia Adams, a lobbyist with the ARC of North Carolina, an advocacy group for those with developmental disabilities, called the proposal "one of the strongest budgets we've sever seen from a governor for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities for the entire continuum of their lives."

The governor's budget is the first step in a very long process, the preponderance of which takes place at the General Assembly. Several key lawmakers were on hand Monday to lend their support to McCrory, but none spoke during the news conference.

Among the other highlights of the governor's presentation were: