operations

RALEIGH — Rampant state government spending bears much of the blame for North Carolina’s current budget woes, according to a new John Locke Foundation Spotlight report. State spending has…

Gov. Easley proposed $21.4 billion in state appropriations for continuing operations in fiscal year 2009, up $1 billion (4.9 percent) from the final budget for fiscal year 2008. Combined pay increases, including one-time bonuses, for teachers and state employees total $594 million. Less than a fifth of the $400 million in spending reductions are much more than reclaiming money that would not otherwise be spent.