(RALEIGH) -- North Carolina is enjoying a crime rate that is at it's lowest level in 33 years, including a ten percent drop in violent crime over the past year alone. State Attorney General Roy Cooper said crime doesn't go away on it's own, and law enforcement must continue their efforts.

"We still have a lot of work to do.  I'm concerned about recent budget cuts to law enforcement personnel, equipment and training and to prosecutors, but we're going to keep working hard," said Cooper. The new state budget cuts State Bureau of Investigation funding by nine percent, including more than 40 job cuts and a 20 percent budget reduction for high tech equipment.