The state budget Republican leaders released Tuesday includes millions of dollars for programs and initiatives in Robeson, Bladen, Columbus, and Scotland counties. 

Lawmakers plan to pass the spending plan–their first comprehensive budget since 2023–this week. Then it will go to Gov. Josh Stein for approval. 

Here’s what is in the budget for the Border Belt: 

Robeson County 

  • Robeson County: $1 million 
  • Seven new assistant district attorney positions 
  • Robeson County Church and Community Center: $75,000
  • $125,000: Rowland Fire Department: $125,000 
  • Robeson County Fair: $100,000
  • Queheel Fire Department: $50,000
  • Deep Branch Fire Department: $75,000
  • Robeson County Sheriff’s Office: $25,000
  • $25,000 to the Robeson County Re-Entry Program: $25,000
  • Robeson County Honor Guard: $5,000
  • Southeastern Life Center (nonprofit that provides resources for people struggling with substance abuse disorders): $500,000
  • Fairmont Youth Center: $50,000
  • Red Springs Community Development: $50,000
  • Maxton Police Department: $25,000
  • Town of Pembroke: $50,000
  • UNC Pembroke: $95.5 million

Bladen County

  • Southeastern Carolina Crossroads (nonprofit that provides addiction treatment services for men): $300,000
  • Bladen County Department of Social Services: $397,000 
  • Bladen County Sheriff’s Office: $200,000 
  • Town of Elizabethtown (stormwater infrastructure projects): $200,000 
  • White Lake Police Department (facility upgrades): $650,000
  • White Lake (water and stormwater infrastructure): $100,000 

Columbus County

  • Fair Bluff riverwalk: $5 million 
  • Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina (for Carolyn’s Kaleidoscope Child Advocacy Center): $1.5 million
  • Columbus County (water and wastewater infrastructure): $100,000
  • Lumber River State Park in Fair Bluff: $250,000 
  • Fair Bluff Depot Museum: $150,000
  • Lake Waccamaw State Park: portion of $2.9 million grant  
  • Tabor City driver’s license office: $173,112

Scotland County

  • Industrial park: $500,000
  • One assistant district attorney position for District 21, which includes Scotland, Anson and Richmond counties 

Heidi Perez-Moreno covers education and more at the Border Belt Independent. She is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and previously worked at The Washington Post.