NC legislature looks to two-week extension on budget talks

With a deadline looming on Friday, state legislators still don’t have a budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. On Tuesday, they rolled out another extension to keep government running through Aug. 31.

The temporary budget bill, known as a “continuing resolution,” continues last fiscal year’s budget allocations for another two weeks while the House and Senate try to reach a deal. Before the fiscal year ended June 30, legislators approved a 45-day continuing resolution that runs out Friday.

While a budget deal in July or early August isn’t uncommon, Aug. 31 would be the latest date for a final budget vote since 2002.

The additional delay leaves the fate of teacher assistants unresolved as traditional calendar schools across the state welcome students. The House budget calls for funding existing positions, but the Senate wants to cut thousands of elementary school teacher assistants and instead hire more classroom teachers, lowering class sizes.

“We are certainly fighting for that with the Senate,” House senior budget writer Nelson Dollar of Cary said. “That matter is still under controversy.”

The continuing resolution is expected to get a full House vote on Wednesday. The need for a budget extension drew immediate criticism from some Democrats.

This story was originally published August 11, 2015 at 3:52 PM with the headline "NC legislature looks to two-week extension on budget talks."