Perdue warns of a big shakeup in state government

Gov. Bev Perdue cautioned state officials Tuesday to expect “a big announcement in early November about merging, eliminating, consolidating pieces of state government.”

The governor made her comments at the end of a Council of State meeting, and did not offer any details.

But Chrissy Pearson, her spokeswoman, noted that the state faces a projected $3.5 billion to $4 billion budget shortfall for the fiscal year beginning next July, when the federal money from the stimulus package runs out.

“You've heard her say for some time, that this bad economy we are suffering from is also an opportunity, if we chose, to transform state government,” Pearson said. “That includes consolidating pieces of state government, from programs to potentially agencies.”

Pearson said the recommendations will likely come in early to mid November. Some may require legislative action.  Perdue believes that her ideas for consolidating government would likely find support in the legislature, from both Democrats and Republicans, Pearson said.