North Carolina residents will be able to get rebates for energy-saving appliances this weekend.

State agencies will lose 4 percent of their budgets as South Carolina’s financial oversight board deals with lagging tax collections.

Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer said Monday he would be open to a scenario in which he would assume the governorship but not run for the state’s top office in 2010 if Governor Mark Sanford decides to resign in the coming weeks.

The Budget and Control Board on Wednesday voted 3-1 to cut 2 percent from the budget that started in July at $7 billion and already has seen $1 billion in cuts.

A South Carolina budget oversight panel will meet to discuss cutting another $87 million from the state spending plan, with public schools losing $37 million.

South Carolina budget chiefs are expected to warn that a worsening economy will create budget gaps.