Governor Perdue Rolls Out Budget Plan: Freezes, taxes, and reductions is how the Governor is proposing to the balance North Carolina’s $21 billion budget for the next fiscal year.  She released her 2009-2011 budget plan yesterday.  Gov. Perdue would freeze the scheduled inflationary increases for Medicaid, saving about $101 million; increase the tax on alcohol by 5% and add a $1 per pack on the excise tax on cigarette which would bring in an additional $677 million a year; and reduce the Office of Rural Health physician loan repayment program by $105,000.  “We have cut $360 million out of the bottom line,” she said.  The budget is now in the hands of the NC Senate.   

MEDPAC is the political education & action committee for the NCMS.