House, Senate give preliminary approval to state budget
The House and Senate gave preliminary approval Tuesday to the $19 billion state budget. A final vote is set for Wednesday.

Lawmakers primed to meet budget deadline
After hammering out an agreement over the weekend, the House and Senate were prepared to approve the 2010-11 state budget before the new fiscal year begins Thursday.

Democrats wrap up negotiations on state budget
House and Senate negotiators have tentatively agreed on a final budget deal that would eliminate a long-debated tuition subsidy for out-of-state athletes at University of North Carolina system schools.

State lawmakers go back and forth to reach budget compromise
A new fiscal year begins in 10 days, and state lawmakers are working hard to hammer out the details of a new budget and pass the spending plan by then.

Senate leaders to tackle potential $1.2M budget shortfall
With a potential budget shortfall of $1.2 billion looming, state Senate leaders worked to trim larger line items on Friday.

Perdue meets with lawmakers to discuss budget back-up plan
Gov. Bev Perdue met with legislators on Tuesday to discuss a back-up plan for the state budget if federal stimulus funds don’t materialize.

Lawmakers find another $83M for education
State lawmakers have allocated an extra $83 million to education, which could lessen the severity of proposed cuts to the University of North Carolina system, UNC President Erskine Bowles said Friday.

Bowles: Budget cuts will hurt poor students
UNC President Erskine Bowles said Thursday that poor and minority students would be hit hardest by budget cuts proposed by state lawmakers.

House gives final OK to nearly $19B budget
The House has approved its spending plan for North Carolina government that's being billed as either an austere budget for 2010 or a plan that leaves the state unprepared for a $3 billion shortfall in 2011.

Prospects dim for balanced state budget by June 30
The likely loss of about $500 million in federal stimulus funds lawmakers had counted on to balance the 2010-11 state budget means agreeing on a spending plan will be more difficult, they said Tuesday.

Federal jobs bill could cause state deficit to balloon
A $93 billion package of jobless benefits passed the U.S. House Friday only after Democratic leaders jettisoned a provision that would have provided extra federal economic stimulus money to states.

Bowles: Budget cuts could limit university enrollment
UNC President Erskine Bowles said a budget proposal approved Thursday by a House subcommittee effectively caps enrollment at the system's 16 higher education campuses.

House leaders clamp down on spending growth
A House subcommittee on Wednesday went over recommendations for spending $3.9 billion on health and human services in the coming year, but lawmakers said they weren't allowed to make many changes before forwarding the plan to top budget writers.

House eyes deeper education cuts
A state House subcommittee on Tuesday recommended reducing education spending by 3.3 percent in the coming year, a far deeper cut than those proposed by either the state Senate or Gov. Beverly Perdue.

Teachers lobby for money as Perdue calls for new highway fund
Gov. Beverly Perdue pushed Monday for increased funding for state highway projects, but North Carolina education leaders said public schools should be first in line for more money.

Senate budget would shift lottery proceeds for jobs
A provision in the state Senate's proposed $19 billion spending plan would allow counties to use proceeds from the North Carolina Education Lottery to temporarily fund teaching jobs.

Senate gives $19B budget tentative OK
The state Senate gave tentative approval Wednesday to a $19 billion plan to run North Carolina state government for the coming year that reduces public education cuts at the expense of health care and other programs.

Senate places priority on education spending
A Senate subcommittee proposed Monday a smaller cut in state spending on public schools and higher education than Gov. Beverly Perdue called for last month, including using excess lottery revenue on college scholarships.

Senate panels unveil state budget ideas
Senate budget-writers unveiled draft proposals Friday to eliminate more health positions then Gov. Beverly Perdue recommended in next year's North Carolina state government spending plan, while adding back funds she sought for local mental health agencies.