April 21, 2026
North Carolina STILL Has No Budget!
This week’s action is directed at the North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA). Our elected representatives, paid with our tax dollars, are not working to benefit North Carolinians. As of this writing, North Carolina is the only state in the nation without a budget!
According to NC Local, North Carolina creates a budget every two years, running from July 1 in odd years, and ending on June 30 two years later. They go on to explain that a 2016 law allows for spending at the previous year’s levels, which allows for the legislature to “fail” to agree on a new budget. https://nclocal.org/2025/10/29/what-is-the-n-c-budget-process-and-why-is-the-2025-budget-delayed/
The primary disagreement is not partisan, but between Republican leadership in the Senate and the House. Unable to agree, the NCGA adjourned its “long” session in October 2025. Both chambers are finally due back in session today at 12 Noon. At this time, there are no agenda items related to a budget.
See “Why This is Important,” below, for how the lack of a budget affects the people of North Carolina.
WHAT TO DO
Contact your elected officials with the following messages (see HOW TO DO IT below):
- Tell legislators that tax cuts primarily benefiting the wealthy MUST STOP.
- Demand immediate funding for “critical needs” as outlined by Governor Stein, including funding the Medicaid rebase, pay raises for law enforcement, public safety, teachers, and state employees, and funding critical agency operations that impact the safety and welfare of North Carolinians.
HOW TO DO IT
To find and contact your state legislators, go to https://www.ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators
Enter your home address to link to contacts for your NC Senator and Representative.
WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT
Lack of a budget affects almost every aspect of everyday life. WFAE provides an interactive graphic that describes effects on education, healthcare, DMV, infrastructure, police and courts, state employees, and taxes. https://www.wfae.org/politics/2026-03-09/north-carolina-still-doesnt-have-a-budget-heres-how-that-affects-everyday-life
Governor Stein wrote the legislature on March 6 asking that lawmakers fund “critical needs” immediately. He outlined how the lack of a budget impacts state agencies, universities, and local governments. https://www.osbm.nc.gov/govcriticalneedsbudgetrec/open
The North Carolina Budget and Tax Center reported on March 25 that continued automatic tax cuts may result in a revenue shortfall that will negatively impact SNAP, Medicaid, and other affordability programs. https://ncbudget.org/nc-budget-updates/ (Scroll to the March 25 and March 9 updates)
Senate leadership is in favor of additional tax cuts, which the NC Office of State Budget and Management reports will benefit mostly wealthy households, but House leadership prefers to focus on pay raises for teachers and other state employees, while holding taxes at the current rate. https://www.osbm.nc.gov/scheduled-income-tax-cuts-mostly-benefit-high-income-households
Thank you for everything you do to protect our democracy!
ICCV Legislative Committee
“With Liberty and Justice for ALL”