RALEIGH -- North Carolina budget negotiators have been making progress this week, but it's too little, too late to get a government spending plan approved before their latest deadline.
So General Assembly leaders say they planned Thursday to debate and vote on another stop-gap spending measure. It'll be the third since lawmakers realized they wouldn't pass a two-year budget before the fiscal year began July 1.
The first "continuing resolution" was set to expire Aug. 14. The second ends Monday. Gov. Pat McCrory has signed the previous two into law.
The third temporary measure would expire Sept. 18. Lawmakers sound optimistic about not needing a fourth.
Senate and House Republicans announced this week they've agreed on more detailed spending numbers for this year and on teacher and state employee pay.