GOP lawmakers plan to send NC Gov. Stein first significant budget bill in June
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Berger and Hall announced a verbal budget framework with raises and tax changes.
- Lawmakers hope to send a budget bill to Stein’s desk by week of June 15.
- Gov. Stein is waiting to see what the finished budget legislation looks like.
Greetings and welcome to our Under the Dome newsletter that focuses on North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein. I’m Capitol bureau chief Dawn Vaughan. Let’s get rolling.
The biggest news in #ncpol this past week was a breakthrough on the state budget, with House Speaker Destin Hall and Senate leader Phil Berger announcing they made a deal on the amount of raises and tax policy changes.
One remarkable aspect of the deal — beyond it actually coming to fruition — is that there’s nothing on paper. Berger and Hall, who are both Republicans, told reporters about the “framework” in person (or livestreamed for the remote crowd). No press release. No legislation. No one-sheet of paper with the numbers handed out.
So we’re still in a wait-and-see mode for the details beyond what Berger and Hall have told reporters.
I asked Stein’s office for comment before the news conference even started, and when he made one later that evening, it was skeptical. He referenced the phrase “the proof is in the pudding,” meaning he needs to see final bill.
At the end of Tuesday’s Council of State meeting, Stein, a Democrat, told his fellow elected statewide officials that he has the “continued desire for (legislators) to pass a fiscally responsible budget to give the resources that are necessary for us to provide the critical services that people deserve, that they need.”
His administration has been involved already this legislative session as the budget begins to take shape. Two top House budget chairs, Reps. Dean Arp and Donny Lambeth, told The N&O that they’ve been meeting with Stein’s Cabinet secretaries — in addition to going over Stein’s three budget proposals he already presented to the public this spring.
Asked if anything could derail the expected budget timeline, Lambeth said that policy in the budget could. With Republicans controlling the General Assembly for the past 15 years, some budgets have included policy that takes power from the governor. A late 2024 Helene funding bill shifted Board of Elections appointment power from the governor to the state auditor, a change in law that took effect right before Stein took office in January 2025. While the legislature has sent him many bills since then, not one has been a comprehensive budget.
Republicans hope to send it to Stein’s desk for action the week of June 15.
Catch up on more budget coverage
- How the public can — and can’t — be part of how NC decides to spend your money
- What NC budget deal means for your income tax rate, and how you can vote on it
- NC Republicans have a deal on the overdue state budget, with raises and tax cuts
- NC budget breakthrough has over $200 million for Duke-UNC children’s hospital
- Police, teachers, state workers set to get raises in NC budget deal. When and how much
Thanks for reading. I’ve been hearing from a lot of readers this week with questions about the budget deal and budget process. I’ve tried to answer them directly or in our stories so far. Any other questions? Reach me at dvaughan@newsobserver.com or our entire politics team at dome@newsobserver.com.
And be sure to listen to our Under the Dome podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts. I host a new episode every Tuesday.
