RALEIGH – Top legislative leaders announced late Friday they have reached a budget deal. As for what’s in it, we won’t know until early in the coming week.

Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) and Senate Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) announced in a press released that they have reached a compromise on several major budget provisions over the biennium. Meetings will still occur with budget writers and staff throughout the weekend to finalize the details of the tentative agreement reached today.

“We certainly understand that this has been a long and hard process, but our diverse and growing State needs a well-crafted, conservative budget to ensure a successful future,” Speaker Moore stated on Friday afternoon. “I feel that Senator Berger and I were able to reach good compromise on a number of issues that are important to our State. I look forward to reviewing the final Conference Report with my House colleagues this weekend and Monday, and then setting a vote for this upcoming week.”

“I am grateful to Speaker Moore and members of the Senate and House for their willingness to compromise, and their patience and perseverance in reaching this tentative agreement,” Senate Leader Berger remarked. “I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to pass a final budget next week.”

Lawmakers expect that a Conference Report should be ready by Monday, with further details and comment to follow.

GOP leaders have been criticized for the time it has taken for the budget to be completed. The state has been operating under continuing resolutions since the deadline for the budget passed July 1. The most recent of those resolutions is set to expire Friday.