Historical North Carolina budget and finance information

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The historical North Carolina budget and finance information below applies to years prior to the most current fiscal year. With the exception of the tab labeled "Prior fiscal year budgets," the tabs below display information, from several different fiscal years, as it was presented on Ballotpedia in prior calendar years. For more current information regarding North Carolina's budget and finances, click here.

As published 2016

North Carolina budget and finances

General information

Budget calendar: Biennial

Fiscal year: 2017

State credit rating: AAA (as of 2014)

Current governor: Pat McCrory

Financial figures

Total spending (state and federal funds): $44.4 billion (estimated for 2015)

Per capita spending: $4,416.70 (estimated for 2015)

Total state tax collections: $23.4 billion (2014)

Per capita tax collections: $2,353.71 (2014)

State debt: $107.6 billion (as of 2014)

Per capita state debt: $11,032 (as of 2014)

State budget and finance pages • Total state expenditures • State debt • Tax policy in North Carolina

In North Carolina, as in other states, lawmakers and public officials are elected in part to manage the state's finances. This includes generating revenues (money coming into the state from various sources) and approving expenditures (the money spent on governmental functions and servicing state debt). State budgets are complex and fluid, as they depend on anticipated revenues and planned expenditures, which may alter over the course of a fiscal year. If revenues do not keep pace with expenditures, states generally have to raise taxes, cut services, borrow money, or a combination of the three. State budget decisions are also influenced by policy decisions at the national level, such as the Affordable Care Act or energy and environmental regulations, and issues at the local level, such as crime and the quality of education.

HIGHLIGHTS

Between fiscal years 2014 and 2015, total government spending in North Carolina increased by approximately $0.8 billion—from $43.6 billion in fiscal year 2014 to an estimated $44.4 billion in 2015. This represents a 1.7-percent increase.

In North Carolina in fiscal year 2014, 50.2 percent of total tax revenues came from income taxes.

Education accounted for 37 percent of state expenditures in fiscal year 2015, while 30.4 percent went to Medicaid.

The North Carolina state budget and financial data presented here come from different years because the states and the federal government report and publish the information at different times.

Definitions

The following terms are used to describe a state's finances:

• Revenues come mainly from tax collections, licensing fees, federal aid, and returns on investments.
• Expenditures generally include spending on government salaries, infrastructure, education, public pensions, public assistance, corrections, Medicaid, and transportation.
• State debt refers to the money borrowed to make up for a deficit when revenues do not cover spending.
• The state credit rating is the grade given by a credit rating agency based on the general financial health of the state's government and economy.
• State funds include general and other state-based funds. A general fund is "the predominant fund for financing a state's operations." Other state funds are "restricted by law for particular governmental functions or activities."
• Federal funds are "funds received directly from the federal government."
• Total spending is calculated by adding together the totals for state and federal funds used for expenditures.

Note: In comparing dollar amounts across the states, it is important to note that the cost of living can from state to state and within a state. The amounts given on this page have not been adjusted to reflect these differences. For more information on "regional price disparities" and the Consumer Price Index, see the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Revenues

2014 revenues

See also: State government tax collections by source

The table below breaks down state government tax collections by source in 2014 (comparable figures from surrounding states are also provided to give additional context). Figures for all columns except "2013 population" and "Per capita collections" are rendered in thousands of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000). Figures in the columns labeled "2013 population" and "Per capita collections" have not been abbreviated.

Compared to neighboring states, North Carolina had the highest state tax collections per capita, at $2,354.

State tax collections by source ($ in thousands), 2014
State	Property taxes	Sales and gross receipts	Licenses	Income taxes	Other taxes	Total	2013 population	Per capita collections
North Carolina	N/A	$9,978,484	$1,600,058	$11,751,148	$67,061	$23,396,751	9,940,387	$2,354
Georgia	$788,350	$7,310,132	$609,944	$9,909,378	$10,698	$18,628,502	10,097,132	$1,845
South Carolina	$21,664	$4,628,363	$471,862	$3,750,341	$60,334	$8,932,564	4,829,160	$1,850
Tennessee	N/A	$8,758,085	$1,335,392	$1,416,190	$296,662	$11,806,329	6,547,779	$1,803
Virginia	$35,561	$6,063,182	$795,515	$11,618,200	$436,814	$18,949,272	8,328,098	$2,275
United States	$14,232,835	$411,414,175	$51,120,024	$357,104,785	$31,880,270	$865,752,089	318,907,401	$2,715
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "2014 annual survey of state government tax collections by category," accessed April 4, 2016

North Carolina tax collections by source in 2014.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau

The table below lists 2014 tax collections by source as percentages of total collections. About 50.2 percent of North Carolina's total state tax collections came from income taxes.

State tax collections by source (as percentages), 2014
State	Property taxes	Sales and gross receipts	Licenses	Income taxes	Other taxes
North Carolina	N/A	42.6%	6.8%	50.2%	0.3%
Georgia	4.2%	39.2%	3.3%	53.2%	0.1%
South Carolina	0.2%	51.8%	5.3%	42.0%	0.7%
Tennessee	N/A	74.2%	11.3%	12.0%	2.5%
Virginia	0.2%	32.0%	4.2%	61.3%	2.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "2014 annual survey of state government tax collections by category," accessed April 4, 2016

Federal aid to the state budget

See also: Federal aid to state budgets

State governments receive aid from the federal government to fund a variety of joint programs, mainly in the form of grants for such things as Medicaid, education, and transportation. In 2013 federal aid to the states accounted for roughly 30 percent of all state general revenues. Federal aid varies from state to state. For example, Mississippi received approximately $7.5 billion in federal aid in 2013, accounting for about 43 percent of the state's general revenues, the highest percentage of all of the states. By contrast, North Dakota received about $1.5 billion in federal aid in 2013, or just 19 percent of the state's general revenues, the lowest percentage in the nation.

The table below notes what share of North Carolina’s general revenues came from the federal government in 2013. That year, North Carolina received approximately $15.5 billion in federal aid, 32.5 percent of the state's total general revenues. Taking into consideration the state's 2013 population, this came out to about $1,571 in federal aid per capita. Figures from surrounding states are provided for additional context.

Federal aid to state budgets, 2013
State	Total federal aid ($ in thousands)	Federal aid as a % of general revenues	Ranking (by % of general revenues)	Est. 2013 population	Aid per capita
North Carolina	$15,470,808	32.5%	25	9,848,060	$1,571
Georgia	$14,323,163	37.3%	7	9,992,167	$1,433
South Carolina	$6,698,952	30.2%	30	4,774,839	$1,403
Tennessee	$10,819,977	39.5%	3	6,495,978	$1,666
Virginia	$9,412,343	22.9%	47	8,260,405	$1,139
Sources: United States Census Bureau, "State Government Finances: 2013," accessed April 4, 2016 United States Census Bureau, "State totals: Vintage 2013," accessed April 8, 2016 Note: Per-capita figures were generated by Ballotpedia by dividing total federal aid for the state by the estimated population of that state in 2013.

Spending

Estimated 2015 expenditures

See also: Total state expenditures

The table below breaks down estimated spending totals for fiscal year 2015 (comparable figures from surrounding states are included to provide additional context). Figures for all columns except "Population” and “Per capita spending" are rendered in millions of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000,000). Figures in the columns labeled "Population” and “Per capita spending" have not been abbreviated.

North Carolina's total estimated government spending in fiscal year 2015 was $44.4 billion, which was the second highest amount when compared to surrounding states.

Total estimated state spending, FY 2015 ($ in millions)
State	State funds	Federal funds	Total spending	Population	Per capita spending
North Carolina	$30,426	$13,930	$44,356	10,042,802	$4,416.70
Georgia	$30,593	$12,901	$43,494	10,214,860	$4,257.91
South Carolina	$14,926	$7,631	$22,557	4,896,146	$4,607.09
Tennessee	$18,806	$13,156	$31,962	6,600,299	$4,842.51
Virginia	$36,257	$9,706	$45,963	8,382,993	$5,482.89
Per-capita figures are calculated by taking the state's total spending and dividing by the number of state residents according to United States Census Bureau estimates. Source: National Association of State Budget Officers, "Examining fiscal 2013-2015 state spending," accessed April 4, 2016

Spending by function

Breakdown of spending by function in FY 2014.
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

See also: State spending by function as a percent of total expenditures

State spending in North Carolina can be further broken down by function (elementary and secondary education, public assistance, etc.). Fiscal year 2014 information is included in the table below (information from neighboring states is provided for additional context). Figures are rendered as percentages, indicating the share of the total budget spent per category.

In fiscal year 2014, Medicaid accounted for 30.4 percent of North Carolina's total expenditures.

State spending by function as a percent of total expenditures, FY 2014
State	K-12 education	Higher education	Public assistance	Medicaid	Corrections	Transportation	Other
North Carolina	22.4%	14.6%	0.5%	30.4%	4.5%	10.7%	16.8%
Georgia	24.3%	18.8%	0.1%	21.6%	3.6%	5.9%	25.7%
South Carolina	18.4%	23.6%	0.4%	24.6%	2.8%	6.5%	23.7%
Tennessee	18.3%	14.2%	0.3%	30.6%	3.1%	5.7%	27.8%
Virginia	15.1%	15.2%	0.3%	17.2%	2.7%	12.0%	37.4%
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers Note: "Other" expenditures include "Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), institutional and community care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, public health programs, employer contributions to pensions and health benefits, economic development, environmental projects, state police, parks and recreation, housing and general aid to local governments."

Spending trends

Between 2010 and 2014, the share of the North Carolina state budget spent on Medicaid increased from 24.2 percent in 2010 to 30.4 percent in 2014. See the table below for further details (figures are rendered as percentages, indicating the share of the total budget spent per category).

Spending by function from 2010 to 2014 (as percentages)
Year	K-12 education	Higher education	Public assistance	Medicaid	Corrections	Transportation	Other
2014	22.4%	14.6%	0.5%	30.4%	4.5%	10.7%	16.8%
2013	24.8%	12.4%	0.5%	30%	4.6%	10.7%	17%
2012	23.2%	9.0%	0.5%	24.7%	4.2%	9.9%	28.4%
2011	18.3%	12.5%	0.5%	22.1%	2.8%	8.7%	35.1%
2010	19.3%	12.4%	0.5%	24.2%	2.9%	7.1%	33.5%
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers Note: "Other" expenditures include "Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), institutional and community care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, public health programs, employer contributions to pensions and health benefits, economic development, environmental projects, state police, parks and recreation, housing and general aid to local governments."

Fiscal year budgets

See also: Historical North Carolina budget and finance information

Fiscal years 2016 and 2017

On September 18, 2015, North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory signed into law the state's 2016-2017 biennial budget, several months after the July 1, 2016, start of the biennium. Between July 1 and September 18, the legislature adopted and the governor signed three stop-gap spending bills to keep the state government running. Upon signing the biennial budget into law, McCrory said, "The budget submitted to me by the General Assembly includes many of the goals and ideas we put forward to provide the tools North Carolina needs to continue what we have accomplished during the past three years. Now we can work together to implement a common-sense vision for our great state that includes job creation, education, healthcare, and transportation." The budget increased spending for public schools by $410 million over the previous year. The budget also "set aside $600 million this year for emergency reserves and building repairs and $225 million over two years to prepare for Medicaid overhaul."

State debt

See also: State debt

According to a January 2014 report by the nonprofit organization State Budget Solutions, North Carolina had a state debt of approximately $107.6 billion. Its state debt per capita was $11,032. In this report for fiscal year 2012, state debt was calculated based on four components: "market-valued unfunded public pension liabilities, outstanding government debt, unfunded other post employment benefit (OPEB) liabilities, and outstanding unemployment trust fund loans." The report revealed that altogether state governments faced a combined $5.1 trillion in debt, which amounted to $16,178 per capita in the nation.

Total 2012 state debt
State	Total state debt	State debt per capita	Per capita debt ranking
North Carolina	$107,580,297,000	$11,032	42
Georgia	$115,193,862,000	$11,612	39
South Carolina	$71,105,557,000	$15,053	23
Tennessee	$41,049,738,000	$6,358	50
Virginia	$91,339,102,000	$11,158	41
Sources: State Budget Solutions, "State Budget Solutions' Fourth Annual State Debt Report," January 8, 2014

Taxpayer burden

TIA Methodology: To figure a state’s taxpayer burden or surplus, TIA looked at a state’s total reported assets minus capital assets and assets restricted by law (buildings, roads, land, etc.) to calculate “available assets,” which were then compared to the amount of money the state owes in bills, including retirement obligations such as pension plans and healthcare benefits for retirees. If the difference between available assets and total bills was positive, TIA called this a surplus; if it was negative, this was a burden. This amount was then divided by the number of individual tax returns with a positive tax liability, thus expressing the total state surplus or burden on a per-taxpayer basis.

According to a report released in September 2015 by the nonprofit Truth in Accounting (TIA), North Carolina ranked 23rd worst in the country in “taxpayer burden.” Rather than using per capita state debt, TIA ranked states based on what it called a “taxpayer burden,” a term that reflects “the amount each taxpayer would have to send to their state’s treasury in order for the state to be debt-free.” On the other hand, states that had sufficient resources to pay their bills were said to have a “taxpayer surplus,” which represents the amount that each taxpayer would receive if the state were to disburse its excess funds.

Based on analysis of North Carolina’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report from June 30, 2014, and actuarial reports for the state’s retirement plans, TIA concluded that $26.8 billion in promised retirement benefits were unfunded, but none of these liabilities were reported on North Carolina’s balance sheet. With all of the unfunded retirement benefits included in the total debt, the state had a shortfall of $23.3 billion, or a taxpayer burden of $8,400.

Public pensions

See also: North Carolina public pensions and North Carolina public employee salaries

Between fiscal years 2008 and 2012, the funded ratio of North Carolina's state-administered pension plans decreased from 104.6 percent to 93.9 percent. The state paid 100 percent of its annual required contribution, and for fiscal year 2012 the pension system's unfunded accrued liability totaled $3.8 billion. This amounted to $415 in unfunded liabilities per capita.

Credit ratings

See also: State credit ratings

Credit rating agencies, such as Standard and Poor's, assign grades to states that take into account a state's ability to pay debts and the general health of the state's economy. Generally speaking, a higher credit rating indicates lower interest costs on the general obligation bonds states sometimes sell to investors in order to finance large-scale undertakings (e.g., road construction and other public works projects). This in turn results in lower interest costs, thereby lowering the cost to taxpayers.

The table below lists the Standard and Poor's credit ratings for North Carolina and surrounding states from 2004 to 2014. Standard and Poor's grades range from AAA, the highest available, to BBB, the lowest.

State credit ratings, 2004 to 2014
State	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
North Carolina	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA
Georgia	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA
South Carolina	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AAA
Tennessee	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA	AA
Virginia	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA
Source: Stateline: The Daily News Service of The Pew Charitable Trusts, "Infographic: S&P State Credit Ratings, 2001-2014," June 9, 2014

Economic indicators

See also: Economic indicators by state

North Carolina's GDP increased by 1.4 percent in 2014. Click the image to view a larger version.

Broadly defined, a healthy economy is typically one that has a "stable and strong rate of economic growth" (gross state product, in this case) and low unemployment, among many other factors. The economic health of a state can significantly affect its healthcare costs, insurance coverage, access to care, and citizens' physical and mental health. For instance, during economic downturns, employers may reduce insurance coverage for employees, while those who are laid off may lose coverage altogether. Individuals also tend to spend less on non-urgent care or postpone visits to the doctor when times are hard. These changes in turn may affect the decisions made by policymakers as they react to shifts in the industry. Additionally, a person's socioeconomic status has profound effects on their access to care and the quality of care received.

In 2013, most residents in North Carolina earned incomes between 200 and 399 percent of the federal poverty level, with a median annual household income of $44,254. At 19 percent, North Carolina had the largest portion of residents that earned incomes below 100 percent of the federal poverty level among its neighboring states.

Note: Gross state product (GSP) on its own is not necessarily an indicator of economic health; GSP may also be influenced by state population size. Many factors must be looked at together to assess state economic health.

Various economic indicators by state
State	Distribution of population by FPL* (2013)				Median annual income (2011-2013)	Unemployment rate		Total GSP (2013)†
	Under 100%	100-199%	200-399%	400%+		Sept. 2013	Sept. 2014
North Carolina	19%	21%	32%	28%	$44,254	7.7%	6.7%	$471,365
South Carolina	16%	19%	35%	30%	$43,716	7.3%	6.6%	$183,561
Tennessee	18%	20%	34%	28%	$42,785	8.2%	7.3%	$287,633
Virginia	11%	15%	26%	48%	$65,635	5.5%	5.5%	$452,585
United States	15%	19%	30%	36%	$52,047	7.2%	5.9%	$16,701,415
* Federal Poverty Level. "The U.S. Census Bureau's poverty threshold for a family with two adults and one child was $18,751 in 2013. This is the official measurement of poverty used by the Federal Government." † Median annual household income, 2011-2013. ‡ In millions of current dollars. "Gross State Product is a measurement of a state's output; it is the sum of value added from all industries in the state." Source: The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, "State Health Facts"

Budget process

State documents and agenciesBelow are links to official North Carolina budget and financial documents. The first is the state's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). A CAFR is a detailed presentation of a government entity's financial condition. This includes fiscal activities and balances for a fiscal year. The second link is to the state's relevant budget agency or office. North Carolina CAFR North Carolina budget agency

The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in October.
2. State agency budget requests are submitted in December.
3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the North Carolina State Legislature in March.
4. The legislature adopts a budget between June and August. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.
5. The biennial budget cycle begins in July.

North Carolina is one of six states in which the governor cannot exercise line item veto authority.

The governor is constitutionally and statutorily required to submit a balanced budget. Likewise, the legislature is constitutionally and statutorily required to pass a balanced budget.

Agencies, offices, and committees

The following state legislative committees are involved in budget and financial matters:

1. Appropriations Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
2. Appropriations on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
3. Appropriations on Capital Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
4. Appropriations on Department of Transportation Committee, North Carolina State Senate
5. Appropriations on Education Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
6. Appropriations on Education/Higher Education Committee, North Carolina State Senate
7. Appropriations on General Government and Information Technology Committee, North Carolina State Senate
8. Appropriations on General Government Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
9. Appropriations on Health and Human Services Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
10. Appropriations on Health and Human Services Committee, North Carolina State Senate
11. Appropriations on Information Technology Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
12. Appropriations on Justice and Public Safety Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
13. Appropriations on Justice and Public Safety Committee, North Carolina State Senate
14. Appropriations on Natural and Economic Resources Committee, North Carolina State Senate
15. Appropriations on Transportation Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
16. Finance Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
17. Finance Committee, North Carolina State Senate
18. Ways & Means Committee, North Carolina State Senate

The North Carolina Auditor prepares and publishes audit reports as independent evaluations of the state's financial records and public program performance.

Transparency

See also: "Following the Money" report, 2015

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a consumer-focused nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., released its annual report on state transparency websites in March 2015. The report, entitled "Following the Money," measured how transparent and accountable state websites were with regard to state government spending. According to the report, North Carolina received a grade of B+ and a numerical score of 89.5, indicating that North Carolina was "Advancing" in terms of transparency regarding state spending.

As published 2015

State finances in the U.S.
State tax policy in the U.S.
Pension Policy
State finances on the ballot Taxes on the ballot Glossary of state budget terms Public pensions

The information on this tab contains: Spending (fiscal years 2013 and 2014) Revenues (fiscal year 2013) State debt (fiscal year 2012) Federal aid to the state budget (fiscal year 2012) Budget process

Between fiscal years 2013 and 2014, total government spending in North Carolina increased by approximately $972 million, from $42.9 billion in fiscal year 2013 to an estimated $43.8 billion in 2014. This represented a 2.3 percent increase. The cumulative rate of inflation during the same period was 1.58 percent, calculated using the Consumer Price Indices for January 2013 and January 2014. As of 2014, financial services firm Standard and Poor's had assigned North Carolina a credit rating of AAA.

HIGHLIGHTS

In fiscal year 2014, estimated total government spending in North Carolina equaled $43.8 billion, ranking 13th highest in the nation.

Spending

Definitions

The following terms are used to describe a state's finances:

• Revenues come mainly from tax collections, licensing fees, federal aid, and returns on investments.
• Expenditures generally include spending on government salaries, infrastructure, education, public pensions, public assistance, corrections, Medicaid, and transportation.
• State debt refers to the money borrowed to make up for a deficit when revenues do not cover spending.
• The state credit rating is the grade given by a credit rating agency based on the general financial health of the state's government and economy.
• State funds include general and other state-based funds. A general fund is "the predominant fund for financing a state's operations." Other state funds are "restricted by law for particular governmental functions or activities."
• Federal funds are "funds received directly from the federal government."
• Total spending is calculated by adding together the totals for state and federal funds used for expenditures.

2014 expenditures

See also: Total state expenditures

The table below breaks down estimated spending totals for fiscal year 2014 (comparable figures from surrounding states are included to provide additional context). Figures for all columns except "Population” and “Per capita spending" are rendered in millions of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000,000). Figures in the columns labeled "Population” and “Per capita spending" have not been abbreviated.

North Carolina spent an estimated $43.8 billion in fiscal year 2014.

Total estimated state spending, FY 2014 ($ in millions)
State	State funds	Federal funds	Total spending	Population	Per capita spending
North Carolina	$30,996	$12,850	$43,846	9,943,964	$4,409.31
Georgia	$29,545	$11,834	$41,379	10,097,343	$4,098.01
South Carolina	$14,445	$6,993	$21,438	4,832,482	$4,436.23
Tennessee	$18,832	$13,231	$32,063	6,549,352	$4,895.60
Virginia	$35,123	$9,568	$44,691	8,326,289	$5,367.46
Per-capita figures are calculated by taking the state's total spending and dividing by the number of state residents according to United States Census Bureau estimates. Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

Spending by function

See also: State spending by function as a percent of total expenditures

Breakdown of spending by function in FY 2013
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

State spending in North Carolina can be further broken down by function (elementary and secondary education, public assistance, etc.). Fiscal year 2013 information is included in the table below (information from neighboring states is provided for additional context). Figures are rendered as percentages, indicating the share of the total budget spent per category.

About 30 percent of North Carolina's total expenditures went towards Medicaid in fiscal year 2013.

State spending by function as a percent of total expenditures, FY 2013
State	K-12 education	Higher education	Public assistance	Medicaid	Corrections	Trans- portation	Other
North Carolina	24.8%	12.4%	0.5%	30%	4.6%	10.7%	17%
Georgia	24.1%	19%	0.1%	21.3%	3.7%	5.7%	26.2%
South Carolina	17.6%	19.5%	0.4%	22%	2.7%	5.4%	32.4%
Tennessee	17.8%	13.9%	0.4%	30.8%	2.8%	6.1%	28.2%
Virginia	15.1%	15.3%	0.4%	16.7%	2.8%	11%	38.7%
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers Note: "Other" expenditures include "Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), institutional and community care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, public health programs, employer contributions to pensions and health benefits, economic development, environmental projects, state police, parks and recreation, housing and general aid to local governments."

Spending trends

Spending on K-12 education fluctuated each year between 2009 and 2013, rising from 22.5 percent in 2009 to 24.8 percent in 2013. This overall rise occurred despite a drop to 18.3 percent in 2011. See the table below for further details (figures are rendered as percentages, indicating the share of the total budget spent per category).

Spending by function from 2009 to 2013 (as percentages)
Year	K-12 education	Higher education	Public assistance	Medicaid	Corrections	Transportation	Other
2013	24.8%	12.4%	0.5%	30%	4.6%	10.7%	17%
2012	23.2%	9.0%	0.5%	24.7%	4.2%	9.9%	28.4%
2011	18.3%	12.5%	0.5%	22.1%	2.8%	8.7%	35.1%
2010	19.3%	12.4%	0.5%	24.2%	2.9%	7.1%	33.5%
2009	22.5%	13.5%	0.6%	24.9%	3.6%	8.8%	26.1%
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers Note: "Other" expenditures include "Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), institutional and community care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, public health programs, employer contributions to pensions and health benefits, economic development, environmental projects, state police, parks and recreation, housing and general aid to local governments."

Revenues

2013 revenues

See also: State government tax collections by source

The table below breaks down state government tax collections by source in 2013 (comparable figures from surrounding states are also provided to give additional context). Figures for all columns except "Population" and "Per capita revenue" are rendered in thousands of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000). Figures in the columns labeled "Population" and "Per capita revenue" have not been abbreviated.

The largest single source of tax collections in North Carolina during fiscal year 2013 was individual income taxes, which accounted for approximately $11.1 billion of total tax collections.

State tax collections by source ($ in thousands)
State	Property taxes	Sales and gross receipts	Licenses	Individual income taxes	Corporation net income taxes	Other taxes	Total	2013 population	Per capita collections
North Carolina	N/A	$9,714,217	$1,543,201	$11,068,166	$1,285,907	$157,087	$23,768,578	9,848,917	$2,413.32
Georgia	$61,052	$7,408,422	$744,401	$8,772,227	$797,255	$10,795	$17,794,152	9,994,759	$1,780.35
South Carolina	$8,549	$4,476,982	$439,843	$3,357,518	$386,669	$51,744	$8,721,305	4,771,929	$1,827.63
Tennessee	N/A	$9,128,175	$1,421,174	$262,842	$1,256,173	$298,527	$12,366,891	6,497,269	$1,903.40
Virginia	$33,188	$6,192,666	$806,572	$10,900,860	$772,001	$481,566	$19,186,853	8,270,345	$2,319.96
Source: Tax Policy Center, "State Tax Collection Sources 2000-2013," June 20, 2014

North Carolina tax collections by source in 2013
Source: Tax Policy Center

The table below lists 2013 tax collections by source as percentages of total collections. Almost 90 percent of North Carolina's total state tax collections came from a combination of sales taxes and gross receipts and individual income taxes.

State tax collections by source (as percentages)
State	Property taxes	Sales and gross receipts	Licenses	Individual income taxes	Corporation net income taxes	Other taxes
North Carolina	N/A	40.87%	6.49%	46.57%	5.41%	0.66%
Georgia	0.34%	41.63%	4.18%	49.30%	4.48%	0.06%
South Carolina	0.10%	51.33%	5.04%	38.50%	4.43%	0.59%
Tennessee	N/A	73.81%	11.49%	2.13%	10.16%	2.41%
Virginia	0.17%	32.28%	4.20%	56.81%	4.02%	2.51%
Source: Tax Policy Center, "State Tax Collection Sources 2000-2013," June 20, 2014

State debt

See also: State debt

According to a January 2014 report by the nonprofit organization State Budget Solutions, North Carolina had a state debt of approximately $107.6 billion. Its state debt per capita was $11,032. In this report for fiscal year 2012, state debt was calculated based on four components: "market-valued unfunded public pension liabilities, outstanding government debt, unfunded other post employment benefit (OPEB) liabilities, and outstanding unemployment trust fund loans." The report revealed that altogether state governments faced a combined $5.1 trillion in debt, which amounted to $16,178 per capita in the nation.

Total 2012 state debt
State	Total state debt	State debt per capita	Per capita debt ranking
North Carolina	$107,580,297,000	$11,032	42
Georgia	$115,193,862,000	$11,612	39
South Carolina	$71,105,557,000	$15,053	23
Tennessee	$41,049,738,000	$6,358	50
Virginia	$91,339,102,000	$11,158	41
Sources: State Budget Solutions, "State Budget Solutions' Fourth Annual State Debt Report," January 8, 2014

Public pensions

See also: North Carolina public pensions and North Carolina public employee salaries

Between fiscal years 2008 and 2012, the funded ratio of North Carolina's state-administered pension plans decreased from 104.6 percent to 93.9 percent. The state paid 100 percent of its annual required contribution, and for fiscal year 2012 the pension system's unfunded accrued liability totaled $3.8 billion. This amounted to $415 in unfunded liabilities per capita.

Credit ratings

See also: State credit ratings

Credit rating agencies, such as Standard and Poor's, assign grades to states that take into account a state's ability to pay debts and the general health of the state's economy. Generally speaking, a higher credit rating indicates lower interest costs on the general obligation bonds states sometimes sell to investors in order to finance large-scale undertakings (e.g., road construction and other public works projects). This in turn results in lower interest costs, thereby lowering the cost to taxpayers.

The table below lists the Standard and Poor's credit ratings for North Carolina and surrounding states from 2004 to 2014. Standard and Poor's grades range from AAA, the highest available, to BBB, the lowest.

State credit ratings, 2004 to 2014
State	2014	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2005	2004
North Carolina	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA
Georgia	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA
South Carolina	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AAA
Tennessee	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA+	AA	AA
Virginia	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA	AAA
Source: Stateline: The Daily News Service of The Pew Charitable Trusts, "Infographic: S&P State Credit Ratings, 2001-2014," June 9, 2014

Federal aid to the state budget

See also: Federal aid to state budgets

State governments receive aid from the federal government to fund a variety of joint programs, such as Medicaid. Federal aid varies from state to state. For example, Mississippi received approximately $7.7 billion in federal aid in 2012, which accounted for more than 45 percent of the state's general revenues. By contrast, Alaska received roughly $2.9 billion in federal aid in 2012, just under 20 percent of the state's general revenues.

The table below notes what share of North Carolina’s general revenues came from the federal government in 2012. That year, North Carolina received approximately $15.2 billion in federal aid, 33.2 percent of the state's total general revenues. Figures from surrounding states are provided for additional context.

Federal aid to state budgets, 2012
State	Total federal aid ($ in thousands)	Federal aid as a % of general revenue	Ranking
North Carolina	$15,192,577	33.24%	25
Georgia	$13,794,726	37.92%	7
South Carolina	$6,892,660	32.41%	28
Tennessee	$11,198,575	40.97%	3
Virginia	$9,278,113	23.53%	49
Source: United States Census Bureau, "State Government Finances: 2012," accessed February 24, 2014

Stimulus

According to Recovery.gov, the official government website for the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, North Carolina received $6.26 billion in federal funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act between February 2009 and June 2013.

Budget process

The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:

1. Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in October.
2. State agency budget requests are submitted in December.
3. The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the North Carolina State Legislature in March.
4. The legislature adopts a budget between June and August. A simple majority is required to pass a budget.
5. The biennial budget cycle begins in July.

North Carolina is one of six states in which the governor cannot exercise line item veto authority.

The governor is constitutionally and statutorily required to submit a balanced budget. Likewise, the legislature is constitutionally and statutorily required to pass a balanced budget.

Agencies, offices, and committees

The North Carolina Auditor prepares and publishes audit reports as independent evaluations of the state's financial records and public program performance.

1. Appropriations Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
2. Appropriations on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
3. Appropriations on Capital Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
4. Appropriations on Department of Transportation Committee, North Carolina State Senate
5. Appropriations on Education Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
6. Appropriations on Education/Higher Education Committee, North Carolina State Senate
7. Appropriations on General Government and Information Technology Committee, North Carolina State Senate
8. Appropriations on General Government Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
9. Appropriations on Health and Human Services Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
10. Appropriations on Health and Human Services Committee, North Carolina State Senate
11. Appropriations on Information Technology Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
12. Appropriations on Justice and Public Safety Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
13. Appropriations on Justice and Public Safety Committee, North Carolina State Senate
14. Appropriations on Natural and Economic Resources Committee, North Carolina State Senate
15. Appropriations on Transportation Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
16. Finance Committee, North Carolina House of Representatives
17. Finance Committee, North Carolina State Senate
18. Ways & Means Committee, North Carolina State Senate

Studies and reports

U.S. PIRG "Following the Money" report

See also: "Following the Money" report, 2014

The U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a consumer-focused nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., released its annual report on state transparency websites in April 2014. The report, entitled "Following the Money," measured how transparent and accountable state websites were with regard to state government spending. According to the report, North Carolina received a grade of B+ and a numerical score of 88.5, indicating that North Carolina was an "advancing" state in terms of transparency regarding state spending.

As published 2014

The information on this tab contains: Spending (fiscal year 2013) Spending by function (fiscal year 2012) Spending trends (fiscal years 2008 to 2012) Revenues (fiscal year 2013) Historical spending (fiscal years 2009 to 2012) Budget transparency

Between fiscal year 2009 and fiscal year 2013, North Carolina's total expenditures increased by approximately $2.7 billion, from $48.7 billion in 2009 to $51.4 billion in 2013. This represented a 5.25 percent increase, below the cumulative rate of inflation during the same period (9.06 percent, calculated using the Consumer Price Indices for January 2009 and January 2013).

Spending

Definitions

Although each state executes its budget process differently, the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO) breaks down state expenditures into four general categories. This allows for comparisons among the 50 states. NASBO's categories are as follows:

• General fund: "The predominant fund for financing a state’s operations. Revenues are received from broad-based state taxes. However, there are differences in how specific functions are financed from state to state."
• Other funds: "Expenditures from revenue sources that are restricted by law for particular governmental functions or activities. For example, a gasoline tax dedicated to a highway trust fund would appear in the 'Other funds' column. For Medicaid, other state funds include provider taxes, fees, donations, assessments, and local funds."
• Federal funds: "Funds received directly from the federal government."
• Bonds: "Expenditures from the sale of bonds, generally for capital projects."

2013

Breakdown of expenditures in FY 2013
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

The table below breaks down expenditures for fiscal year 2013 (comparable figures from surrounding states are provided to give additional context). Figures for all columns except "Per capita expenditures" are rendered in millions of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000,000). Figures in the column labeled "Per capita expenditures" have not been abbreviated.

Total state expenditures, FY 2013 ($ in millions)
State	General fund	Federal funds	Other funds	Bonds	Total	Per capita expenditures**
North Carolina	$20,602	$17,459	$12,543	$785	$51,389	$5,218.19
Georgia	$18,303	$11,752	$10,211	$808	$41,074	$4,110.62
South Carolina	$6,350	$7,792	$8,158	$0	$22,300	$4,670.31
Tennessee	$12,622	$13,055	$5,394	$382	$31,453	$4,841.92
Virginia	$17,691	$9,546	$16,191	$1,167	$44,595	$5,398.65
**Per capita figures are calculated by taking the state's total expenditures and dividing by the number of state residents according to United States Census estimates. Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

Spending by function

2012

Breakdown of expenditures by function in FY 2012
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

State expenditures in North Carolina can be further broken down by function (elementary and secondary education, public assistance, etc.). Fiscal year 2012 data is included in the table below (information from neighboring states is provided for additional context). Figures are rendered as percentages, indicating the share of the total budget spent per category.

Expenditures by function, FY 2012 (as percentages)
State	Elementary and secondary ed.	Higher ed.	Public assistance	Medicaid	Corrections	Transportation	Other
North Carolina	23.2%	9.0%	0.5%	24.7%	4.2%	9.9%	28.4%
Georgia	24.0%	18.7%	0.1%	21.5%	3.7%	5.2%	26.8%
South Carolina	15.9%	21.0%	0.4%	21.7%	2.7%	6.6%	31.7%
Tennessee	17.7%	12.8%	0.4%	30.7%	2.7%	6.4%	29.3%
Virginia	16.0%	13.1%	0.4%	16.2%	2.9%	11.3%	40.1%
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers Note: "Other" expenditures include "Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), institutional and community care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, public health programs, employer contributions to pensions and health benefits, economic development, environmental projects, state police, parks and recreation, housing and general aid to local governments."

Spending trends

From 2008 to 2012, expenditures on elementary and secondary education, corrections and transportation increased, with corrections expenditures increasing the most at 0.9 percentage points, a 27.3 percent increase in the share of the budget. During the same time period, expenditures on higher education, public assistance and Medicaid decreased, with higher education expenditures decreasing the most at 2.8 percentage points, a 23.7 percent decrease in the share of the budget. The table below details changes in expenditures from 2008 to 2012. Figures are rendered as percentages, indicating the share of the total budget spent per category.

Expenditures from 2008 to 2012 (as percentages)
Year	Elementary and secondary ed.	Higher ed.	Public assistance	Medicaid	Corrections	Transportation	Other
2012	23.2%	9.0%	0.5%	24.7%	4.2%	9.9%	28.4%
2011	18.3%	12.5%	0.5%	22.1%	2.8%	8.7%	35.1%
2010	19.3%	12.4%	0.5%	24.2%	2.9%	7.1%	33.5%
2009	22.5%	13.5%	0.6%	24.9%	3.6%	8.8%	26.1%
2008	22.4%	11.8%	0.6%	26.4%	3.3%	9.1%	26.3%
Change in %	0.80%	-2.80%	-0.10%	-1.70%	0.90%	0.80%	2.10%
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers Note: "Other" expenditures include "Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), institutional and community care for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled, public health programs, employer contributions to pensions and health benefits, economic development, environmental projects, state police, parks and recreation, housing and general aid to local governments."

Revenues

2013 revenues

Breakdown of general fund revenue sources in FY 2013
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

The table below breaks down general fund revenues by source in fiscal year 2013 (comparable figures from surrounding states are also provided to give additional context). Figures for all columns except "Per capita revenue" are rendered in millions of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000,000). Figures in the column labeled "Per capita revenue" have not been abbreviated.

Revenue sources in the general fund, FY 2013 ($ in millions)
State	Sales tax	Personal income tax	Corporate income tax	Gaming tax	Other taxes and fees	Total	Per capita revenue
North Carolina	$5,309	$10,958	$1,192	$0	$3,100	$20,559	$2,087.62
Georgia	$5,226	$8,486	$706	$0	$3,562	$17,980	$1,799.41
South Carolina	$2,448	$2,796	$265	$0	$742	$6,251	$1,309.15
Tennessee	$6,643	$126	$1,083	$0	$3,551	$11,403	$1,755.39
Virginia	$3,249	$11,093	$821	$0	$1,259	$16,421	$1,987.92
**Per capita figures are calculated by taking the state's total revenues and dividing by the number of state residents according to United States Census estimates for 2013. Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

Revenue trends

The table below details the change in revenue sources in the general fund from 2009 to 2013. Figures for all columns except "Per capita revenue" are rendered in millions of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000,000). Figures in the column labeled "Per capita revenue" have not been abbreviated.

Revenue sources in the general fund, North Carolina ($ in millions)
Year	Sales tax	Personal income tax	Corporate income tax	Gaming tax	Other taxes and fees	Total	Per capita revenue
2013	$5,309	$10,958	$1,192	$0	$3,100	$20,559	$2,087.62
2012	$5,258	$10,272	$1,133	$0	$2,869	$19,532	$2,003.62
2011	$5,872	$9,735	$1,014	$0	$2,536	$19,157	$1,984.90
2010	$5,565	$9,048	$1,198	$0	$1,934	$17,745	$1,856.26
2009	$4,678	$9,470	$836	$0	$1,795	$16,779	$1,788.64
Change in %	13.49%	15.71%	42.58%	N/A	72.70%	22.53%	16.72%
**Per capita figures are calculated by taking the state's total revenues and dividing by the number of state residents according to United States Census estimates. Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

Historical spending

The information on state budget historical spending below was compiled by the National Association of State Budget Officers. Figures reflect the reported "Total Expenditures" in Table 1. Figures for all columns are rendered in millions of dollars (for example, $2,448 translates to $2,448,000,000).

Historical state spending in North Carolina ($ in millions)
Fiscal year	General Fund		Other funds		Federal funds		Bonds		Budget totals
	Total	% of Budget	Total	% of Budget	Total	% of Budget	Total	% of Budget
2011-2012	$20,195	43%	$11,207	24%	$14,513	31%	$652	1%	$46,567
2010-2011	$18,503	36%	$14,220	28%	$17,711	35%	$473	1%	$50,907
2009-2010	$18,513	38%	$12,583	26%	$17,163	35%	$488	1%	$48,747
Averages:	$19,070	39%	$12,670	26%	$16,462	34%	$538	1%	$48,740

Budget transparency

Transparency evaluation
	NC Open Book
Searchability	Y
Grants	Y
Contracts	Y
Line item expenditures	N
Dept./agency budgets	Y
Public employee salaries	N
Last evaluated in 2009.

See also: Evaluation of North Carolina state website and Constitutional provisions regarding reading of bills

North Carolina became more transparent in 2009 after the launch of NC Open Book, the government spending transparency website.

Prior to the launch of NC Open Book, the Office of the State Auditor established a searchable database that reported on private organizations receiving state funds. That database can be found here.

Government tools

The table to the right is helpful in evaluating the level of transparency provided by NC Open Book.

Limitations and Suggestions

NC Open Book does not list state employee salaries, nor does it provide line-item expenditures.

Multi-measure budget transparency profile

The Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois created a multi-measure transparency profile for North Carolina, which measured state transparency as of September 2011 using indicators from a range of organizations. These indicators measured both website transparency and other recognized facets of governmental transparency. In addition, IGPA presented four unique indicators of non-transparency based on the observation that transfers or reassignments between general and special funds can obscure the true fiscal condition of a state.

IGPA devised a budget transparency index based on information available from the National Association of State Budget Officers. North Carolina tied for 20th in the nation with 12 other states, earning five out of eight possible points.

North Carolina - IGPA score for budget process, contents and disclosure
Budget transparency indicator	Yes or no?
Performance measures
"Generally Accepted Accounting Principles" budget
Multi-year forecasting
Annual cycle	N
Binding revenue forecast
Legislative revenue forecast
Nonpartisan staff	N
Constitution or statutory tax/spend limitations	N
TOTAL	5

In addition to the individual state profile, IGPA offers a 50-state comparison and profiles for other states.

Prior fiscal year budgets

Fiscal years 2016 and 2017

As of September 25, 2015 the state had not yet finalized its official budget for the 2016-2017 biennium. While debate continued, lawmakers passed temporary spending measures so that state spending could continue. North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory announced on August 18, 2015 that he and the state's legislative leaders had agreed on a budget spending amount of $21.735 billion.

Fiscal years 2014 and 2015

See budget bill: Senate Bill 402

North Carolina state budget -- 2014
North Carolina State Legislature
Text:	Senate Bill 402
Legislative history
Introduced:	March 25, 2013
House:	June 13, 2013
Vote (lower house):	77-40
Senate:	May 23, 2013
Vote (upper house):	33-17
Governor:	Pat McCrory
Signed:	July 26, 2013

The 2014-2015 biennial budget was signed into law by Governor Pat McCrory on July 26, 2013. A copy of the full appropriations bill can be found here.

McCrory announced a budget adjustment proposal on May 14, 2014. McCrory's proposal can be accessed here.

Fiscal year 2013

See also: North Carolina state budget (2012-2013)

Fiscal year 2012

See also: North Carolina state budget (2011-2012)

Fiscal year 2011

See also: North Carolina state budget (2010-2011)

Fiscal year 2010

See also: North Carolina state budget (2009-2010)

See also

• North Carolina state budget and finances