(RALEIGH) – Republican lawmakers are not reacting favorably to reports that just surfaced that Democratic Governor Bev Perdue is planning to strike a deal to sell the Dorthea Dix Property in Downtown Raleigh as she heads out the door.

Republican Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger labeled Governor Perdue's reported plan to lease the campus of the former Dorothea Dix mental hospital to the City of Raleigh for a public park a "stunt.”

"Having failed for four long years to advance her agenda, Gov. Perdue is desperately trying to create a last-minute legacy at the expense of North Carolina taxpayers," said Berger in a news release.

Multiple media organizations are now reporting that Perdue is expected to present her plan to the Council of State as soon as next week. The Council of State includes all the statewide elected officials and has a Democratic majority.

The plan reportedly calls for new offices for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and a large urban public park close to downtown, according to WTVD.

The Dorothea Dix hospital closed last year after housing patients for 150 years. Various estimates of the value of the property put it between $35-60 million.

Republicans have said the decision on what happens to the property should rest with incoming Governor-elect Pat McCrory and the Republican controlled Legislature.

"I urge the Council of State to be the 'adults in the room' and reject her hasty plan to hand over a valuable state asset with little in return," said Berger.

Republican House Speaker Thom Tillis agreed with Berger.

"The Dorothea Dix campus is a historically valuable state asset, and the future of the property should be thoroughly vetted through the legislative process. Rather than rush this decision through the Council of State, we should work together to determine if this is the best path forward. If this proves to be a good idea today, then it will be a good idea weeks from now," he offered.

Perdue said her plan to consolidate state office space and create a park would save taxpayers money.

"[The plan] would save taxpayers nearly $100 million, move employees from 60 separate facilities into five buildings on one campus, and it would preserve green space in a metropolitan area that is expected to grow by more than 1 million people in the next 10 years," she said to WTVD.

For longtime Raleigh observers, such as Barlow Herget with SGRToday.com, the proposal is not a total surprise, and is not unlike a similar move made years ago by then Governor Jim Hunt which led to the establishment of the Centennial Campus at NC State University.