(RALEIGH) -- The new state budget went into effect July 1, one month after Republicans in the General Assembly managed to override the veto of Governor Beverly Perdue. Ran Coble of the North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research said it is clear people will lose jobs as a result of the budget. Exactly how many remains to be seen.

"The two estimates in terms of how many people are going to lose their jobs as a result of this budget, the low figure is about 18,000 and the high figure is about 30,000 depending on who you believe," said Coble.

Republicans claim 12,000 jobs will be created, many of them in the small business sector. Coble said it is too early to tell how quickly the state government job cuts will be made.