By admin 
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WJZY) — North Carolina officially has a budget. Governor Josh Stein signed the $34 billion spending package into law during a ceremony in Raleigh on Tuesday morning.
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Stein praised teacher pay raises and Medicaid funding but admitted he is not happy with several other portions, including a dispute over Charlotte transportation funding.
According to the budget, Charlotte and several area cities could be required to pay back money spent on the design and planning of a now-canceled widening of I-77 South.
“It makes real the General Assembly’s wrongheaded threats of retribution against Charlotte. Charlotte needs to enhance road safety and minimize community impact, and that balancing process should be collaborative,” said Stein.
In a recent interview with WBT Radio, Davidson Republican State Senator Vickie Sawyer defended the potential $60 million clawback, arguing GOP leadership is trying to protect the taxpayer.
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“This is basically saying this project had been there for a long time, there’s been local support for over ten years, and after we’ve invested your tax dollars to build this project and at the last minute and at a political whim, remove support, then you just have to pay the toll,” said Sawyer.
The clawback has spurred mixed reactions from cities that voted to stop the I-77 project, while Charlotte Mayor Rob Harrington has said the city is assessing next steps.
“We’re digesting it. I mean, we’re completely aware that there are issues in there about water and there are issues in there, provisions in there that address transportation and 77 South. I think we look forward to diving into the details, finding out what actually ended up in there, and then responding,” said Harrington.
Cities that rescinded support for the project have 90 days to restore their support; otherwise, they will be required to pay up. For Charlotte, that would be around $30 million.
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