Perdue prepares to slash budget

ryanteaguebeckwith — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 08:59:40 -0500

Gov. Beverly Perdue is getting ready to cut the budget.

Late Tuesday night, Perdue issued an executive order directing budget officials give her cost-cutting options by the end of the week.

State government faces a shortfall of as much as $3 billion, or more than 10 percent of last year's $21.5 million budget.

Among the possible measures: Canceling state purchases and using money other than the general fund to finance daily operations.

Perdue did not say what steps she will take or how much she hopes to save, but the executive order gives her legal authority to act when her budget advisers make recommendations later this week.

"As Governor, I have a constitutional requirement to balance North Carolina's budget, and I intend to do so responsibly," she said in a statement. (N&O)

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Perdue prepares to slash budget