North Carolina’s economic and budget pictures look much better today than they did a few years ago. State Budget Director Lee Roberts offered a series of data points to support that argument during a speech Monday to the John Locke Foundation’s Shaftesbury Society.

Roberts discussed positive economic data, favorable state rankings, and recent reforms. He also explained potential benefits of the Connect NC bond package scheduled for a March 2016 statewide vote.

In the video clip below, Roberts detailed benefits of Gov. Pat McCrory’s Project Phoenix program of identifying unused and underused state properties that can be returned to the private sector.

Click here to watch the full 51:15 presentation.