NC Democrats push for budget transparency ahead of Sunshine Week with new legislation

Democrat lawmakers are pushing to enhance transparency in the state’s budget process as Sunshine Week approaches, a nationwide initiative that promotes open government and transparency.

Held annually in mid-March, Sunshine Week will take place on March 16-22 this year and recognizes the importance of government transparency and the public’s right to access information. The nonpartisan movement encompasses groups in the journalism, civic, education, government and private sectors to shine a light on the significance of public records and open government.

In North Carolina, HB 178, titled “Budgeting Accountability and Transparency,” was introduced in the General Assembly this week with 14 sponsors. The legislation recognizes the importance of public transparency by advocating for reforms that would require the state budget to be developed more openly and with increased public input.

One of the bill’s most significant provisions is the introduction of mandatory public comment periods before any budget vote. The legislation requires at least one week for virtual public comments to be submitted through an online portal and a minimum of one in-person public hearing. Additionally, the bill calls for at least three nonvoting committee meetings to discuss the budget in an open forum. By allowing for public input, the bill aims to ensure that the budget reflects the needs and priorities of residents rather than being shaped solely behind closed doors.

While the idea of greater transparency and time for public review before it’s voted on offers many benefits to the public, it also could bring concerns over the weight of special interest groups lobbying for more taxpayer dollars throughout the process, explained Brian Balfour, vice president of research at the John Locke Foundation.

“This bill would require more deliberation and public input into the budget-writing process, which I believe overall is a good thing,” said Balfour. “Also, the requirement that legislative requests for expenditures be made public documents is a step in the right direction. The Locke Foundation has argued in favor of requiring the requesting legislator’s name to be listed with the spending they requested in the budget document itself. Legislators should be vigilant, however, to ensure that the public comment periods don’t get hijacked by special interest groups pleading for more taxpayer dollars.”

In addition to public comment periods, HB 178 includes a transparency component for legislative requests. Under the proposed law, documents from state agencies and individual legislators requesting budget provisions or funding will become public records once the budget is enacted, allowing citizens to see how certain budgetary decisions were made.

As Sunshine Week approaches, the debate around transparency is likely to intensify, with more advocates highlighting other areas where the North Carolina government could enhance the public’s ability to access records.

The post NC Democrats push for budget transparency ahead of Sunshine Week with new legislation first appeared on Carolina Journal.