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Advocates for early childhood education have long warned of a looming funding cliff as federal COVID-19 relief to the child care industry expired in June. State lawmakers passed a stop gap measure to help keep child care centers open.

The North Carolina General Assembly is delaying formal work for another week while budget negotiations and summer travel delay actions that Republicans want to accomplish before this year's chief legislative session ends.

Republicans in the state House and Senate still have some closed-door dealing to do before a spending plan is voted on, likely later this month. Meanwhile, legislators are again trying to consolidate appointment powers.

Republican House leaders have released their initial budget proposal. Senate leadership is expected to release its budget proposal in May, and the budget process will likely continue through the summer before North Carolinians see a final state budget.

Legislative leaders announced Wednesday that they’ve agreed on how much to spend in the state budget for the next two years.

The North Carolina General Assembly starts a new long session on Jan. 11.

The budget designates nearly $26 billion in spending this fiscal year, and $27 billion the next. North Carolina is the final state in the nation to get a budget.

As state lawmakers prepare to move forward with their own budget, Governor Roy Cooper now faces the threat of a veto-override for the first time in nearly three years as negotiations grind to a conclusion.

Republican legislative leaders sent another negotiating offer to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper on Tuesday as top government officials still attempt to enact a long-overdue two year budget.

The state House and Senate have reached a deal on the budget. In our weekly political discussion, Clark Riemer and Aisha Dew share their optimism about a possible spending deal with the governor. Meanwhile, the ongoing negotiations could be impacted by a Leandro remediation order, and Democrats on Capitol Hill must now decide what to work on first.