North Carolina lawmakers clash over next round of Hurricane Helene funding

RALEIGH, N.C. — With less than two weeks remaining before the North Carolina state budget deadline, state lawmakers remain deadlocked over how to deliver the next wave of recovery funding to affected communities.

The House has supported passing the relief as standalone bills, with many arguing it would get aid to western North Carolina faster. Senate leaders contend the funding should be incorporated into the state budget instead.

Some Senate Democrats are now pushing for a vote on the next standalone aid package, a $464 million relief bill passed by the House last month. It’s about half what Gov. Stein requested in May. If passed, this would bring the General Assembly’s total Hurricane Helene funding to $1.8 billion. 

The disagreement has created concerns about timing as budget negotiations could stretch on for months.

“We cannot wait six months, or however long it’s going to take for the House and the Senate to come together on their budget plan,” David Jackson, President and CEO of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce, said on WCNC+ last week. “We would like to see that taken back out and seen as a standalone bill, so we can get that help to people that need it. There’s plenty to argue over with the rest of the budget process, and we can leave that to them, but that’s where our advocacy goes.”

Jackson said the funding delay is putting pressure on businesses and nonprofits still recovering from the hurricane’s impact.

Republican leaders acknowledge that additional aid is necessary. The Senate’s initial budget proposal included $700 million in Hurricane Helene recovery funding, while the House took a different approach with its separate aid bill and included no specific hurricane money in its budget proposal.

State Rep. Laura Budd, a Democrat from Mecklenburg County, told WCNC Charlotte she doubts the two chambers will reach a budget compromise before the legislative break, but she hopes the Senate will push the aid package to a vote.

“We’re going to take a break for a few months while the budget conferees try to work out a compromise, and all I can think of is people need to fix their homes. They need to jump-start their businesses. They need to pay their bills, all of the things that need to be done,” Rep. Budd said.

She also said getting the aid out fast is even more crucial amidst federal funding cuts.

“I think it elevates the fact that the state government is your first line of defense,” Rep. Budd said.

A spokesperson for Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger sent WCNC Charlotte this statement: 

“Sen. Berger remains steadfast in his support for Western North Carolina. The General Assembly has already put more than $1.4 billion toward Hurricane Helene relief and recovery. The Senate budget proposal also included $700 million for future Hurricane Helene needs, and more than $630 million in temporary and permanent repurposing of funds within the Department of Transportation to support recovery. Senate budget writers are working on identifying budget measures that need to be accomplished before we adjourn for the summer, and that includes hurricane relief items. We anticipate taking up additional hurricane relief before we adjourn.”

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Contact Julie Kay at juliekay@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.