By Brian Balfour

Carolina Journal

As North Carolina enters the second quarter of its fiscal year, it remains one of just two states in the nation without a comprehensive budget bill.

Recent reports indicate there is no appetite among legislative leaders to return to Raleigh the rest of this calendar year, leaving the budget and several other important issues unaddressed.

Let’s face it: The General Assembly has become dysfunctional.

With Republican majorities in both chambers, failure to reach a budget agreement is embarrassing — and, worse, it impacts millions of North Carolinians.

While the state has a continuing resolution that keeps spending at last year’s levels to avoid a shutdown scenario, the uncertainty wreaks havoc on state agencies.

The lack of a budget prevents local ed

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