Budget

With the expansion of Medicaid next month, North Carolina is getting a big check from the federal government. State lawmakers plan to spend more than a billion dollars on mental healthcare, training doctors and nurses — and a few projects that don’t relate to health.

Six towns in Dare County have filed a lawsuit to block part of the state budget bill that bans them from regulating a new state-funded affordable housing project led by political donors.

North Carolina’s legislature is now exempt from the public records law that governs other branches of government. The change comes alongside a major expansion of the legislature’s ability to seize documents from state agencies and private contracts.

North Carolina’s new state budget will become law next week, and several provisions would give the legislature more authority over community colleges and the court system.

Despite the All-Star race being a non-points exhibition race, it does satisfy the budget requirement, Rep. Jason Saine (R-Lincoln) told the Associated Press.

The recently approved state budget includes about $2 billion to improve water and sewer systems. The money will help about 200 mostly rural counties and towns across North Carolina.

The state House and Senate voted Thursday afternoon to pass a long-delayed $30 billion spending plan. The House took a final vote in a rare midnight session, with the Senate finalizing the bill Friday morning.

After months of delays, state lawmakers are releasing a budget that includes new personal income tax cuts and raises for state employees and teachers.

House and Senate leaders are considering passing two bills: one with the budget, and one that launches Medicaid expansion and casinos.

Democrats in the General Assembly put the blame on Republican leadership for what they describe as chronic underfunding of schools.They say the failure to pass a state budget by July - when it's supposed to take effect - is making matters worse.