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With state Senate leaders hammering out a budget in record time, it may seem like the budget process is nearly over.

But the House must still propose its version, the two must be reconciled, and the Governor must sign it. In between all these steps, there is still time for serious debate about priorities.

Shouldn’t housing, one of the fundamental human needs, be a top priority?

Housing advocates have been calling for a full $50 million contribution from the budget to the state Housing Trust Fund to help pay for decent, affordable housing for thousands of North Carolinians (creating thousands of jobs in the process). But the N.C. Senate’s budget includes only a $5 million one-time appropriation for the general use of the Fund.

Even with a surplus approaching $2 billion, state Senate leaders are already saying publicly that there just wasn’t enough money to pay for everything. So where do you find $50 million for housing North Carolina ’s poorest families?

How about the tax cut for the super-rich? The Senate’s budget reduces income taxes on the top tax bracket from 8.25% to 8%. How much money will this blatant giveaway to our state’s suffering upper crust cost the state budget?

Why, about $50 million.

The Senate’s budget prioritizes extra pocket money for the wealthy over basic housing for the poor. Don’t believe them when they say the money isn’t there.