North Carolina requires budget requests for new and expanded programs and services to include evidence and research supporting the programs’ goals, as well as the Governor’s strategic priorities. For the FY21-23 budget development process, Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) increased its focus on evidence-based budgeting, data-driven decisions, and strategic management of the state’s resources. North Carolina continued to use the two-step budget submission process where agency and budget office staff work collaboratively to develop evidence-based approaches before submitting their final budget requests. Agencies who opted-in were given additional time to work with a diverse set of state stakeholders to develop evidence-based approaches before submitting their final budget requests.
The North Carolina Governor’s American Rescue Plan budget recommendations included justification narratives for each of the main budget recommendation categories. Each justification narrative included data and evidence to support why the funding was needed and the expected impact it would have on the state.