Senate GOP advances its N.C. budget plan this week

RALEIGH (AP) — The creation of the next North Carolina state government budget should advance this week as Senate Republicans unveil and vote for their proposal.

Senate GOP leaders planned to provide details on their two-year budget at a May 28 news conference. Senate leader Phil Berger says the full chamber should finish voting for the measure by May 31.

House Republicans approved earlier this month their budget, which spends $24 billion for the year starting July 1. Senate Republicans worked up their proposal while learning the state expects a $643 million revenue surplus this year.

Berger hopes the House and Senate can send a negotiated final budget to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper by June 15. Cooper has vetoed GOP budgets each of the past two years and could do the same this year.