RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) -- The annual North Carolina state budget dance is about to begin in earnest now that legislators know how much money they'll have to spend.
But Republican legislators have yet to hear formally from their partner -- Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue -- about what she'd like.
Lawmakers learned this week they should have a revenue surplus of about $233 million for the fiscal year ending June 30. The General Assembly reconvenes May 16 to adjust next year's budget approved a year ago.
Senior House budget co-chairman Harold Brubaker of Asheboro said Wednesday all the surplus could be needed to help close a Medicaid shortfall for this year and next.
Perdue hasn't yet released her budget recommendations, but Brubaker said any sales tax increase she proposes is off the table.