(The Center Square) – With 2025 drawing to a close, the North Carolina Legislature still hasn’t approved a state budget, making it only the state in the nation without a full budget for fiscal 2026, according to the National Association of State Budget officers.

This year may seem unusual, but in recent years, operating without an approved budget has become increasingly common, Dr. Chris Cooper, director of the Public Policy Institute at Western Carolina University, told The Center Square.