(RALEIGH) -- North Carolina's $2.7 billion dollar budget deficit is causing delays in infrastructure needs that must be addressed. State Senate President Phil Berger said delaying infrastructure needs hurts everyone.

"The more you put that off the more it's going to cost you down the road," said Berger.  "At this point, the unfortunate reality is that we're just faced with a very severe shortfall as far as the amount of dollars that are available and we're going to do the best that we can to address repair and renovation, to address some infrastructure needs."

Berger said the legislature will prioritize the spending based on what the needs of the state are.  Still he said some of the things that he would like to see done will be put off.