Labor Commissioner Cherie Berry Tuesday objected to some routine spending for park land, saying it was not appropriate during a deep recession.

"I am very much concerned about the debt we are incurring," Berry said. "I'd like to see us suspend all unnecessary spending until the budget stabilizes."

Berry, a Republican and a fiscal conservative, made her comments Tuesday morning at a meeting of the Council of State, a body of the state's top elected executives which meet monthly to approve mainly routine purchases, right-of-way proceedings, office leases and other such business, Rob Christensen reports.

The purchases mainly for parkland such as $262,926 for 32 acres at Elk Knob State Park in Ashe County and $1.8 million for 265 acres at Yellow Mountain State Park in Avery County.

Berry made her comments through a speaker-phone hook-up because she was snowed in at her home in Catawba County. The purchases were approved without debate, with only Berry voting against it.