Another $500 million would be spent toward Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in western North Carolina in legislation the state House unanimously approved Tuesday.
The measure, if enacted, would add to the funds the Republican-controlled General Assembly already approved in late 2024 to spend on disaster recovery activities following the historic flooding in the mountains in September.
But Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, who took office in January, requested earlier this month that legislators approve more than double that amount — $1.07 billion. He says those funds can't wait until conventional state budget negotiations likely would wrap up early this summer and that struggling businesses, displaced residents and public school students need help now.
