(RALEIGH) -- The North Carolina Senate is expected to give final approval Monday to a measure that gives the governor the authority to cut an additional $400 million from the current state budget.

The Republican-backed measure also transfers nearly $140 million in unspent money from some 20 state trust funds. Co-sponsor Senator Richard Stevens says it's part of a plan to find up to $1 billion to put towards next year's $3.7 billion budget gap.

Senate President Phil Berger says he never received feedback from Governor Bev Perdue suggesting that she would oppose the legislation.

"We went over to the governor and we said, Governor, these are the things we're doing. These are the things that are going to be in the bill. The first objection that I heard was the statement from her press secretary," he said.

GOP lawmakers also rejected an attempt to exempt several job development programs from $75 million in cuts.