Awful numbers foretell Perdue's painful NC budget

RALEIGH, N.C. (Rocky Mount Telegram) — North Carolina's dire financial picture became clearer before Gov. Beverly Perdue planned to unveil a budget proposal this week that apparently recommends eliminating programs and threatens state jobs.

With the unemployment rate now close to 10 percent, Perdue last week secured the state's rainy-day reserve fund, bringing to $1 billion the amount at her disposal to pay the state's bills this year.