The latest state budget extension – the third of the ongoing lawmaking session – has set a new deadline of Sept. 18 for final passage of a state budget that was supposed to take effect on July 1.
If it holds, as the chart shows, it would make this year’s adoption one of the latest budgets since the 1960s. Of course, it already is.
Rep. Chuck McGrady, a key Republican budget writer in the House, had his office assemble the accompanying chart. He’s called this period both purgatory and limbo.
The Democratic leader in the House highlighted the cost of the delay, as lawmakers draw pay and per diems past the typical adjournment period. Rep. Larry Hall of Durham pegged the extensions’ cost at more than $2 million.
“This continuing resolution does not create jobs, does not improve education, does not provide health care, but it does cost,” Hall said in a statement.
House members have agreed to find cuts of about $300 million from the budget they adopted, adding to the decision-making pressure. The House is much more diverse than the Senate, in numbers and beliefs about the state’s spending. It’s made for a slog.
By week’s end, it seemed that, based on numerous comments from key lawmakers, this deadline will stick.
J. Andrew Curliss
Breaking it down
Lawmakers so far have agreed to broad “targets” for spending in the current fiscal year budget. Here’s where the House and Senate started, and the compromise result for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2015.
TOTAL GENERAL FUND
Compromise: $21.74 billion
House: $22.22 billion
Senate: $21.33 billion
Education
Compromise: $12.05 billion
House: $12.15 billion
Senate: $11.87 billion
Health and Human Services
Compromise: $5.12 billion
House: $5.28 billion
Senate: $5.07 billion
Justice and Public Safety
Compromise: $2.44 billion
House: $2.46 billion
Senate: $2.46 billion
Natural and economic resources
Compromise: $372 million
House: $436.5 million
Senate: $380.6 million
General Government
Compromise: $425.4 million
House: $450.6 million
Senate: $421.9 million
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