HomeMy WebLinkAboutState of North Carolina - Public Financial Report
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 1 Fiscal Year 2021
Dear Fellow North Carolinian,
I am pleased to present North Carolina’s Financial Highlights for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021. The State’s fiscal
year starts July 1 and ends the following June 30. Accurate financial reporting is a hallmark of our Great State. This
report reflects my commitment to you, the citizens of North Carolina, to provide financial reporting in conformance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America as established by the Governmental
Accounting Standards Board (GASB). It also represents our contfnuing commitment to
you to provide transparency to our citfzens through clear reportfng, financial
management, and fiscal accountability for the resources of the State of North Carolina.
North Carolina’s Financial Highlights is a report for all North Carolinians and an
initfatfve of the Office of the State Controller to provide easy-to-understand
informatfon about our State’s financial conditfon. It summarizes basic financial
informatfon about our State which is supported in more detail in the State’s Annual
Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). The ACFR is prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accountfng principles (GAAP) and is independently audited by the
North Carolina Office of the State Auditor.
This report provides informatfon at the government-wide level in additfon to the major
fund level, and certain selected statfstfcal informatfon cited in our ACFR. Coverage of legally separate but related
organizatfons is limited to universitfes and community colleges and is at a high level.
This year’s Financial Highlights features some of North Carolina’s beautfful state parks. The cover features Stone
Mountain State Park which is located on more than 14,100 acres in Wilkes and Alleghany countfes, Stone Mountain
State Park offers a 600-foot granite dome, cascading waterfalls and cool mountain streams, quiet forests abundant
with wildlife, scenic hiking trails and a historic mountain homestead. Read more about the featured parks at
osc.nc.gov/ACFR2021Parks.
In 1985, the North Carolina General Assembly established the Office of the State Controller. In their wisdom, they saw
the need to create an independent, non-partfsan office to oversee the State’s accountfng, disbursing, and financial
reportfng functfons. Their goal was to provide a source of checks and balances between the branches of government
to ensure there was an appropriate accountfng of public funds and integrity in the State’s fiscal reports. I trust that the
informatfon provided throughout this report will give us all reason to celebrate living in this Great State.
Thank you for your interest in the financial integrity of the State of North Carolina.
Sincerely,
Dr. Linda Combs
State Controller
Informatfon is presented in this report on the basis of GAAP. This report and the State’s complete financial statements, known as the ACFR,
can be obtained at https://www.osc.nc.gov, by telephone at (919) 707-0500, or by writfng to the N.C. Office of the State Controller, 1410
Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1410.
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 2 Fiscal Year 2021
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Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 3 Fiscal Year 2021
Table of Contents
State Reportfng Entfty and Services ........................................................................................4
The Economy.............................................................................................................................4
Financial Highlights ...................................................................................................................6
Government-Wide Financials ..................................................................................................7
Statement of Net Positfon ...................................................................................................7
Statement of Actfvitfes ........................................................................................................8
Capital Assets .................................................................................................................... 13
Debt Administratfon ......................................................................................................... 14
Demographic and Economic Indicators ............................................................................... 15
Educatfon Highlights .............................................................................................................. 17
North Carolina Educatfon Lottery ......................................................................................... 18
Transportatfon Highlights ..................................................................................................... 20
Award for Outstanding Achievement .................................................................................. 21
Lake Waccamaw State Park
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 4 Fiscal Year 2021
State Reporting Entity and Services
The State of North Carolina entfty as reported in the ACFR includes all fund types of the departments, agencies, boards,
commissions, and authoritfes governed and legally controlled by the State's executfve, legislatfve, and judicial branches. In
additfon, the reportfng entfty includes legally separate component units for which the State is financially accountable. The
component units are discretely presented in the government-wide financial statements. The State's discretely presented major
component units are the University of North Carolina System, the State's community colleges, and the State Health Plan.
The State and its component units provide a broad range of services to its citfzens, including:
K-12 Public Educatfon
Higher Educatfon
Health and Human Services
Economic Development
Environment and Natural Resources
Public Safety, Correctfons, and Regulatfon
Transportatfon
Agriculture
General Government Services
The Economy
In fiscal year 2020-21, the natfon and North Carolina were recovering from the sharp economic downturn caused by disruptfons
associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. At the start of the fiscal year, the most stringent business restrictfons has been eased and
the State’s economy was beginning to rebound. By fiscal year’s end, economic output had surpassed pre-pandemic levels despite
employment remaining well below pre-pandemic levels. Going forward, economy remains tfed to the rate of transmission of the
coronavirus. Given falling infectfon and hospitalizatfon rates, the economic outlook is positfve.
Broad measures of natfonal and North Carolina economic actfvity demonstrate the remarkable recovery from the depths of the
pandemic-induced recession. Although many indicators suggest that the economy has returned to or exceeded pre-pandemic
levels, labor market indicators, in partfcular, demonstrate that certain sectors of the economy have not yet fully recovered.
Dismal Swamp State Park
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 5 Fiscal Year 2021
— Emma Turner, PhD
Fiscal Research Division, North Carolina General Assembly
North Carolina Economic Indicators
FY 2019-20 FY 2020-21 FY 2021-22 FY 2022-23
Actual Actual Projected Projected
Real Gross State Product Growth -0.8% 2.5% 5.6% 3.3%
Personal Income Growth 6.4% 7.2% 0.6% 3.9%
Wages & Salaries Growth 3.4% 6.1% 7.4% 4.9%
Retail Sales Growth 0.5% 13.6% 12.0% 6.1%
Average Unemployment Rate 5.7% 6.1% 3.3% 2.9%
Nonfarm Employment Growth -7.0% 5.8% 4.2% 1.8%
The onset of the pandemic took a toll on the State as well as the natfon in fiscal year 2019-20. However, North Carolina’s
economy, as with the natfon’s, grew in fiscal 2020-21 as gross state product increased by 2.5%, exceeding its pre-pandemic
level by the end of the fiscal year. Over the next two fiscal years, North Carolina’s economy is expected to expand at a fast-
er pace than that of the natfon.
During the fiscal year, the housing market tfghtened considerably. Mortgage rates hit an all-tfme low at the beginning of
January 2021 and housing demand surged. In North Carolina, home values appreciated 17.7 percent over the fiscal year.
Mortgage rates are expected to rise slowly over the next two years and the housing market is expected to cool.
Wage and salary income rose 6.1 percent during the fiscal year, compared to growth last fiscal year of 3.4 percent. As the
economic restrictfons largely impacted lower-wage industries such as the leisure and hospitality sector, wage growth overall
was not as dramatfcally impacted as it may have been had the pandemic and related economic restrictfons affected higher -
wage industries. In 2020 and early 2021, total personal income was boosted by pandemic-related assistance programs. In-
come from the federal government economic impact payments, expanded unemployment insurance, and the Paycheck Pro-
tectfon Program more than offset declines in other sources of income. State total personal income rose by 7.2 percent dur-
ing the fiscal year, mirroring the natfonal increase. These increases came after last fiscal year’s growth of 6.4 percent at the
State level. As transfer payments subside to more typical levels, personal income growth is expected to slow significantly.
Consumer spending was initfally hard hit by the pandemic, especially during the most restrictfve phases of the economic
lockdown. However, upon reopening, consumer spending rebounded significantly, due to pent up demand because of re-
duced spending during the lockdown, as well as income from the federal stfmulus benefits provided in 2020 and early 2021.
Retail sales were especially strong, growing 13.6 percent in the State during this fiscal year compared to a growth rate of
only 0.5 percent last fiscal year. Growth was slow early in the fiscal year, but quickly surpassed pre-pandemic levels as busi-
ness restrictfons were eased. Despite higher prices, retail sales are expected to remain robust through next fiscal year as
consumers spend down the savings accumulated during the pandemic.
Compared to other economic indicators, employment measures present a more nuanced picture of overall economic condi-
tfons. Prior to the pandemic, the State unemployment rate was 3.5 percent, the lowest level in 50 years. Throughout the
recession and recovery, North Carolina’s unemployment rate has been consistently below the U.S. unemployment rate.
Unemployment rates peaked in April 2020 in the State, reaching 13.5 percent for North Carolina. The State unemployment
rate averaged 6.1 percent for the fiscal year, declining from 8.8 percent at the start of the fiscal year to 4.6 percent in June
2021. However, the unemployment rate understates the level of joblessness because workers who left the labor force dur-
ing the pandemic are not counted among the unemployed. In North Carolina, over 100,000 workers had not returned to the
labor force as of June 2021.
From June 2020 to June 2021, the North Carolina economy gained 247,900 nonfarm jobs (5.8 percent). However, employ-
ment was 121,400 (2.6 percent) lower than in February 2020, before the pandemic. At the end of the fiscal year, North Car-
olina had recovered 78.9 percent of the 575,200 jobs lost during the recession, while the U.S. had only recovered 70.3 per-
cent of jobs lost. In North Carolina, jobs were added over the fiscal year in all major industries. The leisure and hospitality
sector, hardest hit during the pandemic, added the most jobs (81,000 jobs).
Labor market conditfons are expected to contfnue to improve. New business formatfon, which is critfcal for the employment
outlook, was extraordinarily strong during the fiscal year. Over 170,000 new businesses were formed in the State, up 66.8
percent over last fiscal year. North Carolina is expected to fully recoup job losses incurred as a result of the pandemic by
early 2022.
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 6 Fiscal Year 2021
Financial Highlights
Government-wide Financials
The State’s total net positfon increased by $9.16 billion or 16.01% as a result of this year’s operatfons. Net
positfon of governmental actfvitfes increased by $9 billion or 17.41% while net positfon of business type-actfvitfes
increased by $165 million or 2.97%. At year-end, net positfon of governmental actfvitfes and business-type
actfvitfes totaled $60.68 billion and $5.72 billion, respectfvely.
Component units reported net positfon of $21.32 billion, an increase of $5.11 billion or 31.5% from the previous
year. The majority of the net positfon is attributable to the University of North Carolina System, a major
component unit.
Fund Financials
The fund balance of the General Fund increased from $6.59 billion at June 30, 2020 (as restated) to $11.88 billion
at June 30, 2021, an increase of 80.38%.
The fund balance of the Highway Fund increased from negatfve $330.19 million at June 30, 2020 to $692.83
million at June 30, 2021, an increase of $1.02 billion from the previous year. This increase was mainly due to an
increase in cash resultfng from a reductfon in constructfon and maintenance expenditures.
The Highway Trust Fund reported a fund balance of $1.84
billion, an increase of 50.35% from the previous year. The
fund balance increase was mainly due to an increase in cash
resultfng from fewer expenditures in constructfon and
maintenance projects.
The Unemployment Compensatfon Fund reported net positfon
of $3.18 billion at June 30, 2021 compared to $3.02 billion at
June 30, 2020, an increase of $154.09 million or 5.1%. This
increase in net positfon is due almost entfrely to various
fluctuatfons created by impacts from the Coronavirus
pandemic including the gradually decreasing unemployment
rates since the last quarter of the 2020-21 fiscal year.
The N.C. State Lottery Fund reported net tfcket sales of $3.81
billion, an increase of 26.16% from the previous year. As
required by law, the Lottery transferred $936.8 million to the
General Fund to support educatfonal programs.
The N.C. Turnpike Authority (NCTA) reported net positfon of
$282.53 million, a decrease of 19.83% from the previous year.
The NCTA had an operatfng loss of $45.07 million, a loss
increase of $26.41 million or 141.47% from the prior year due
to a decrease in toll revenues. The NCTA also had a $10.03
million increase in nonoperatfng expenses due to a 6.37 million increase in interest and fees related to debt issued
during the fiscal year.
The EPA Revolving Loan Fund reported net positfon of $2.01 billion, an increase of 3.57% from the previous year.
Operatfng income was $6.82 million, and net nonoperatfng revenues of $50.18 million consisted primarily of
federal capitalizatfon grants and investment earnings.
Mt. Mitchell State Park
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 7 Fiscal Year 2021
Government-wide Financials
The Statement of Net Positfon and the Statement of Actfvitfes are two financial statements that report informatfon about the State,
as a whole, and about its actfvitfes that should help answer this questfon: Is the State, as a whole, better off or worse off as a result
of this year’s actfvitfes?
Governmental actfvitfes cover most of the State’s basic services such as health and human services, transportatfon, and
educatfon. Taxes and intergovernmental revenues generally fund these services.
Business-type actfvitfes are services provided to the State or outside customers that are similar in functfon to private
businesses and are primarily financed by fees charged to the customers. These fees cover all or most of the cost of the
services being provided. The State’s Unemployment Compensatfon Fund, the EPA Revolving Loan Fund, the N.C. State
Lottery Fund, and the N.C. Turnpike Authority are the predominant business-type actfvitfes of the State.
Statement of Net Position
The Statement of Net Positfon presents all of the State’s assets, deferred outilows of resources, liabilitfes, and deferred inflows of
resources, with the sum of these components reported as “net positfon.” The State of North Carolina’s assets and deferred
outilows of resources exceeded liabilitfes and deferred inflows of resources by $66.4 billion at the close of the most recent fiscal
year (see total primary government column). Over tfme, increases or decreases in net positfon may serve as a useful indicator of
whether the financial positfon of the State is improving or deterioratfng. The State’s overall net positfon increased $9.16 billion or
16% (total primary government) from the prior fiscal year. The following table was derived from the government-wide Statement
of Net Positfon:
Net Position as of June 30, 2021 and 2020
(dollars in thousands)
The largest component of the State’s net positfon (86.32% for fiscal year 2021) reflects its investment in capital assets (land,
buildings, machinery and equipment, state highway system, toll road system, and other capital assets), less related debt stfll
outstanding that was used to acquire or construct those assets. Restricted net positfon is the next largest component ($2.12
billion). These resources are subject to constraints that are externally imposed (e.g., by creditors or grantors) or are imposed by
law through constftutfonal provisions. The remaining portfon, unrestricted net positfon, consists of net positfon that does not meet
the definitfon of “net investment in capital assets” or “restricted.”
Governmental Business-type Total Primary Total
Activities Activities Government Percentage
2020 2020 2020 Change
2021 (as restated) 2021 (as restated) 2021 (as restated) 2020-21
Current and other non-
current assets.................... $ 26,896,480 $ 19,599,397 $ 6,820,390 $ 6,691,138 $ 33,716,870 $ 26,290,535 28.25%
Capital assets, net................. 59,619,798 57,559,801 2,439,910 2,244,625 62,059,708 59,804,426 3.77%
Total assets........................ 86,516,278 77,159,198 9,260,300 8,935,763 95,776,578 86,094,961 11.25%
Total deferred outilows
of resources........................... 2,544,873 2,361,920 65,713 63,347 2,610,586 2,425,267 7.64%
Long-term liabilitfes............... 16,962,803 16,679,814 2,951,590 2,433,214 19,914,393 19,113,028 4.19%
Other liabilitfes...................... 8,875,772 8,843,459 599,103 966,723 9,474,875 9,810,182 (3.42%)
Total liabilitfes.................... 25,838,575 25,523,273 3,550,693 3,399,937 29,389,268 28,923,210 1.61%
Total deferred inflows
of resources........................... 2,541,477 2,314,243 54,771 43,682 2,596,248 2,357,925 10.11%
Net positfon:
Net investment in
capital assets......................... 56,803,432 55,581,833 516,526 513,378 57,319,958 56,095,211 2.18%
Restricted.............................. 1,868,783 1,458,418 255,800 178,212 2,124,583 1,636,630 29.81%
Unrestricted.......................... 2,008,884 (5,356,649) 4,948,223 4,863,901 6,957,107 (492,748) (1511.9%)
Total net positfon............... $ 60,681,099 $ 51,683,602 $ 5,720,549 $ 5,555,491 66,401,648 $ 57,239,093 16.01%
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 8 Fiscal Year 2021
Statement of Activities
The Statement of Actfvitfes presents informatfon showing how the State’s net positfon changed during the most recent fiscal year. The
following financial informatfon was derived from the government-wide Statement of Actfvitfes:
Condensed Statement of Activities - Primary Government
For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2021 (dollars in thousands)
Governmental Activities
For fiscal year 2021, revenues outpaced expenses and when combined with contributfons to permanent funds and transfers
from the State’s business-type actfvitfes, an increase in net positfon of $9 billion (or 17.41%) resulted for governmental
actfvitfes.
Total revenues increased by $12.16 billion (or 23.61%).
Total expenses increased by $6.73 billion (or 13.81%).
Business-type Activities
Business-type actfvitfes reflect an overall increase in net positfon of $165.06 million or 2.97%, primarily due to the increase in
net positfon in the Unemployment Compensatfon Fund (Trust Fund).
The increase in net positfon of $154.09 million or 5.1% in the Trust Fund is due almost entfrely to various fluctuatfons created
by the pandemic. Federal COVID-19 funding increased by $1.98 billion or 44.16%, and $1.6 billion more benefits were paid.
The net positfon decreased by $69.87 million or 19.83% for the N.C. Turnpike Authority due an operatfng loss of $45.07
million, mostly due to decreases in toll revenues. Net nonoperatfng expenses increased by $10.03 million mainly due to a
$6.37 million increase in debt-related interest and fees.
The net positfon increase of $69.42 million or 3.57% in the EPA Revolving Loan Fund is due to the Loan Fund contfnuing to
focus on streamlining its processes resultfng in more infrastructure projects completed during the year, using a cash flow
model to better predict fund disbursements and revenue, and prioritfzing the spending of funds from the U.S. EPA (federal)
capitalizatfon grant for these projects.
The N.C. State Lottery Fund’s net positfon did not change and will contfnue to remain constant as a result of legislatfve changes
in the methodology used to calculate net revenues to be distributed to the State’s governmental actfvitfes, as required by
statute.
Primary Government
Governmental Business-type
Activities Activities Total
Changes in Net Position
Net (expense) revenue....................................................................... $ (27,708,800) $ 997,262 $ (26,711,538)
General Revenues:
Taxes:
Individual income tax.................................................................. 15,368,872 — 15,368,872
Corporate income tax................................................................. 1,327,813 — 1,327,813
Sales and use tax....................................................................... 9,826,411 — 9,826,411
Gasoline tax................................................................................ 2,067,262 — 2,067,262
Franchise tax.............................................................................. 882,332 — 882,332
Highway use tax......................................................................... 1,003,310 — 1,003,310
Insurance tax.............................................................................. 722,958 — 722,958
Beverage tax............................................................................... 533,088 — 533,088
Tobacco products tax................................................................. 303,060 — 303,060
Other taxes................................................................................. 334,913 — 334,913
Tobacco settlement........................................................................ 167,417 — 167,417
Federal COVID-19........................................................................ 3,117,857 — 3,117,857
Unrestricted investment earnings................................................... 15,662 15,662
Noncapital contributions…..…….................................................... 91,696 1,309 93,005
Miscellaneous................................................................................. 102,661 — 102,661
Contributions to permanent funds....................................................... 7,472 — 7,472
Transfers............................................................................................. 833,513 (833,513) —
Total general revenues, contributions, and transfers.......................... 36,706,297 (832,204) 35,874,093
Change in net position........................................................................ 8,997,497 165,058 9,162,555
Net position — July 1, as restated.…………...................................... 51,683,602 5,555,491 57,239,093
Net position — June 30...................................................................... $ 60,681,099 $ 5,720,549 $ 66,401,648
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 9 Fiscal Year 2021
Statement of Activities (cont’d)
The following actfvitfes were the primary drivers of the fiscal year 2021 financial results:
Total revenues increased by $12.16 billion or 23.61% while total expenses increased by $6.73 billion or 13.81%.
Operatfng grants and contributfons increased by $4.29 billion or 22.31% due to higher spending in federally supported
programs, such as Medicaid, disaster relief, and the Governor’s Educatfon Emergency Relief (GEER) fund as well as
increases in federal COVID-19 funds.
The State’s governmental actfvitfes recognized $5.6 billion of federal COVID-19 funds; $2.48 billion of operatfng grants
and contributfons and $3.12 billion of other general revenues.
COVID-19 related aid programs including the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), the Coronavirus Aid,
Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES), and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) provided additfonal funding in the
forms of increased federal matching percentages for Medicaid, as well as significant funding to support various State
and local operatfonal functfons.
Health and human services spending increased by $4.03 billion or 18.68% primarily due to increased spending for
Medicaid in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Total transportatfon spending decreased by $186 million or 6.24% primarily due to the reductfon of various constructfon
and maintenance projects in progress as a result of the cash shortage in the prior year.
General government expenses increased by $1.06 billion or 73.4% primarily due to increased spending for COVID-19 aid
programs including general aid distributed to local governments, hospitals, nonprofits, universitfes, colleges, local
educatfon agencies (LEAs), and other component units of the State, as well as aid for the Extra Child Grant Program.
Expenses for primary and secondary educatfon increased by $965.21 million or 8.06% due to increased state aid
provided to local educatfon agencies for contfnued COVID-19 related expenditures.
Condensed Schedule of Expenses & Program Revenue
Primary Government
For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2021
(dollars in thousands)
Program Net (Expense)
Functions/Programs Expenses Revenues Revenue
Primary Government
Governmental Activities
General government........................................................................... $ 2,500,096 $ 517,760 $ (1,982,336)
Primary and secondary educatfon....................................................... 12,936,328 2,157,693 (10,778,635)
Higher educatfon................................................................................. 5,142,660 195,890 (4,946,770)
Health and human services................................................................. 25,629,768 19,823,309 (5,806,459)
Economic development....................................................................... 665,102 431,128 (233,974)
Environment and natural resources.................................................... 821,398 384,344 (437,054)
Public safety, correctfons, and regulatfon........................................... 4,536,568 1,380,700 (3,155,868)
Transportatfon..................................................................................... 2,793,445 2,724,343 (69,102)
Agriculture........................................................................................... 286,217 158,050 (128,167)
Interest on long-term debt.................................................................. 170,435 - (170,435)
Total Governmental Actfvitfes...................................................... 55,482,017 27,773,217 (27,708,800)
Business-type Activities
Unemployment Compensatfon........................................................... 7,317,289 7,431,414 114,125
N.C. State Lottery................................................................................. 2,875,899 3,811,354 935,455
EPA Revolving Loan............................................................................. 17,458 74,355 56,897
N.C. Turnpike Authority....................................................................... 193,813 87,872 (105,941)
Regulatory programs........................................................................... 130,081 147,654 17,573
Insurance programs............................................................................. 35,262 17,674 (17,588)
North Carolina State Fair..................................................................... 7,086 4,321 (2,765)
Other business-type actfvitfes............................................................. 12,780 12,286 (494)
Total Business-type Actfvitfes....................................................... 10,589,668 11,586,930 997,262
Total Primary Government..................................................................... $ 66,071,685 $ 39,360,147 $ (26,711,538)
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 10 Fiscal Year 2021
Statement of Activities (cont’d)
The following chart reflects the dollar change in the revenues by source of governmental actfvitfes between fiscal years 2020 and 2021: Dollar Change in Governmental Activities Revenues by Source Between Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021
The following chart reflects the dollar change in the functfonal expenses of governmental actfvitfes between fiscal years 2020 and 2021: Dollar Change in Governmental Activities Functional Expenses Between Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 11 Fiscal Year 2021
Statement of Activities (cont’d)
The following chart depicts the total expenses and total program revenues of the State’s governmental functfons. This format
identffies the extent to which each governmental functfon is self-financing through fees and intergovernmental aid or draws from
the general revenues of the State.
Merchants Milpond State Park
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 12 Fiscal Year 2021
Statement of Activities (cont’d)
The following schedule reflects the changes in the State’s net positfon over the last five years:
CHANGES IN NET POSITION
For the Fiscal Years 2017-2021
(dollars in millions)
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Governmental Activities
Total Expenses.......................................................... $ (55,482) $ (48,749) $ (46,875) $ (43,962) $ (42,676)
Total Tax Revenues................................................... 32,370 27,651 27,754 26,409 25,377
Total Other Revenues and Contributfons................. 31,276 23,838 21,328 20,212 20,092
Total Transfers.......................................................... 834 653 614 608 665
Change in Net Positfon.......................................... 8,998 3,393 2,821 3,267 3,458
Net Positfon - June 30............................................... $60,681 $51,684 $48,195 $45,322 $41,879
Business-type Activities
Total Expenses.......................................................... (10,590) (8,413) (2,659) (2,406) (2,349)
Total Revenues......................................................... 11,589 8,298 3,860 3,594 3,760
Total Transfers.......................................................... (834) (653) (614) (608) (665)
Change in Net Positfon.......................................... 165 (768) 587 580 746
Net Positfon - June 30............................................... $5,721 $5,555 $6,318 $5,721 $5,141
Total Primary Government
Total Expenses.......................................................... (66,072) (57,162) (49,534) (46,368) (45,025)
Total Revenues and Contributfons........................... 75,235 59,788 52,942 50,215 49,229
Change in Net Positfon.......................................... 9,163 2,626 3,408 3,847 4,204
Net Positfon - June 30............................................... $66,402 $57,239 $54,513 $51,043 $47,020
Hammocks Beach State Park
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 13 Fiscal Year 2021
Capital Assets
As of June 30, 2021, the State’s investment in capital assets was $62.06 billion, an increase of 3.77% from the previous fiscal year-end (see
table below):
Capital Assets as of June 30
(net of depreciation, dollars in thousands)
The largest component of capital assets is the state highway system. North Carolina has an 80,242 mile highway system, making it the
second largest state-maintained highway system in the natfon. The major capital asset actfvity during the current fiscal year included the
following:
The N.C. Department of Transportatfon reported year-end constructfon in progress of $2.27 billion for state highway projects.
Additfonally, the N.C. Turnpike Authority (business-type actfvity) reported year-end constructfon in progress of $364.8 million
for the Complete 540 project. This project involves completfng the 540 loop around the greater Raleigh area by extending the
Triangle Expressway 28 miles. The NCTA also has $37.3 million constructfon in progress for the Mid-Currituck Bridge project.
This project is a seven-mile roadway toll project, which includes a two-lane bridge that spans the Currituck Sound and
connects the Currituck county mainland to the Outer Banks. It also includes a second two-lane bridge that spans Maple
Swamp on the Currituck county mainland.
The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is constructfng a new state-of-the-art laboratory complex to replace
four labs whose average age is more than 40 years. The Agricultural Sciences Center will contain offices and labs that perform
tests for the following divisions in the department: Food and Drug Protectfon, Stands, Structural Pest Control and Pestfcides,
and Veterinary. The new laboratory complex is financed from the Connect NC bonds approved by voters in March 2016. At
year-end, constructfon in progress for the Agricultural Sciences Center totaled $89.31 million.
The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is constructfng a skilled nursing care facility with 120 private rooms for state
veterans in Kernersville, North Carolina. The project is expected to cost in excess of $50 million and is a cooperatfve effort
between the State of N.C. and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs which provided over $27 million in grant funds. The
facility is scheduled to be completed in February 2022. At year-end, constructfon in progress for the Kernersville Veterans
Home totaled $40.46 million.
The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is replacing major legacy IT systems. NC FAST, the new system for
managing and administering social services benefits, will improve the way DHHS and the 100 county departments of social
services conduct business. At year-end, computer software in development for NC FAST totaled $723.5 million.
The State has commitments of $4.703 billion for the constructfon of highway infrastructure ($4.384 billion for governmental
actfvitfes and $319 million for business-type actfvitfes), which are expected to be financed by motor fuels tax collectfons,
motor vehicles fees, toll collectfons, federal funds, and debt proceeds. Other commitments of $137.21 million for the
constructfon and improvement of state government facilitfes are expected to be financed primarily by debt proceeds, state
appropriatfons, and federal funds.
Governmental Business-type
Activities Activities Total
2020 2020
2021 (as restated) 2021 2020 2021 (as restated)
Land and permanent easements....................... $20,643,403 $20,083,620 $ 549,128 $ 474,653 $21,192,531 $20,558,273
Buildings............................................................. 2,856,993 2,865,861 54,113 56,441 2,911,106 2,922,302
Machinery and equipment................................. 799,418 836,165 8,658 8,938 808,076 845,103
Infrastructure:
State highway system.................................... 31,103,285 29,266,797 — — 31,103,285 29,266,797
NC toll road system........................................ — — 1,358,637 1,388,319 1,358,637 1,388,319
General infrastructure................................. 233,081 234,493 6,584 6,596 239,665 241,089
Computer software............................................ 288,560 274,513 644 831 289,204 275,344
Art, literature, and other artffacts...................... 147,441 147,082 1,290 1,286 148,731 148,368
Constructfon in progress.................................... 2,755,714 3,138,670 460,856 307,561 3,216,570 3,446,231
Computer software in development.................. 791,903 712,600 — — 791,903 712,600
Total........................................................... $59,619,798 $57,559,801 $2,439,910 $ 2,244,625 $62,059,708 $59,804,426
Total percent change between
fiscal years 2020 and 2021 3.58 % 8.7 % 3.77 %
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 14 Fiscal Year 2021
Debt Administration
At year-end, the State had total long-term debt outstanding (bonds, special indebtedness, and notes from direct borrowings) of
$8.39 billion, an increase of 12.21% from the previous fiscal year-end (see table below):
Outstanding Debt as of June 30
Bonds, Special Indebtedness, and Notes From Direct Borrowings
(dollars in thousands)
During the 2021 fiscal year, the State issued $400 million in general
obligatfon bonds for its governmental actfvitfes. The general obligatfon
bonds were issued pursuant to the Connect NC Bond Act of 2015 and will
provide financing for various capital improvements throughout the State
as authorized in the Act. The Highway Trust Fund issued $700 million
Build NC special indebtedness limited obligatfon bonds as part of the $3
billion transportatfon package approved by the General Assembly. The
bond proceeds will be used to finance regional and divisional
transportatfon projects contained in the Statewide Transportatfon
Improvement Plan. Also, the N.C. Turnpike Authority (NCTA), a business-
type actfvity, issued $573.45 million in revenue bonds that will be used
to finance the Complete 540 project and the Mid-Currituck Bridge
project.
In connectfon with the general obligatfon bond issues, Standard &
Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service, and Fitch Ratfngs all affirmed the
triple-A bond ratfng for the State. A triple-A credit ratfng means that
North Carolina has followed well-defined financial management policies
and has demonstrated strong debt management practfces. The ratfng
agencies recognized the State’s historically conservatfve budgetfng,
financial management, and debt issuance practfces. North Carolina
remains one of only 13 states with a triple-A ratfng from all three ratfng
agencies. Special indebtedness carries slightly lower ratfngs and higher
interest rates than general obligatfon bonds.
The State’s total long-term debt (bonds, special indebtedness, and notes
from direct borrowings) reported in governmental actfvitfes has increased from $3.48 billion in 2002 to $5.84 billion in 2021, in part
due to large issuances of non-general obligatfon debt (special indebtedness) for higher educatfon capital projects. Prior to 2003,
the State only issued general obligatfon debt. The NCTA, a business-type actfvity, had its first debt issuance in 2010. The NCTA’s
long-term debt has increased from $691.56 million in 2010 to $2.55 billion in 2021.
Governmental Business-type
Activities Activities Total
2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020
General obligatfon bonds....................................... $ 2,648,385 $ 2,605,380 $ — $ — $ 2,648,385 $ 2,605,380
Special Indebtedness:
Limited obligatfon bonds.................................... 2,275,750 1,774,945 — — 2,275,750 1,774,945
GARVEE bonds........................................................ 875,865 959,525 — — 875,865 959,525
Revenue bonds....................................................... — — 2,365,938 1,917,358 2,365,938 1,917,358
Notes from direct borrowings................................ 40,185 43,937 185,991 177,925 226,176 221,862
Total .................................................................. $ 5,840,185 $ 5,383,787 $ 2,551,929 $ 2,095,.283 $ 8,392,114 $ 7,479,070
Total percent change between
fiscal years 2020 and 2021 8.48 % 21.79 % 12.21 %
Gorges State Park
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 15 Fiscal Year 2021
Demographic and Economic Indicators
The following tables illustrate comparatfve informatfon for the State:
SCHEDULE OF DEMOGRAPHIC DATA
For the Years 2017-21
Per Capita Income North Carolina Civilian North Carolina-Other Data
Population (whole dollars) Labor Force Data (units)
N.C. N.C.
North Increase as a Unemployed Motor Residential
Carolina from Prior North Percentage Percentage Vehicles Construction
Year Population Period Carolina of U.S. Employed Rate Registered Authorized
2021 10,595,645 est. 0.00% $ 50,306 est. 84.53% 4,769,039 4.60% 10,245,443 45,417
2020 10,595,645 est. 1.03% $ 50,305 est. 84.53% 4,430,134 7.50% 9,876,946 36,244
2019 10,488,084 1.03% $ 47,660 85.04% 4,868,076 4.20% 9,548,341 34,313
2018 10,381,615 1.10% 45,758 84.58% 4,787,584 4.20% 9,403,076 36,166
2017 10,268,233 1.12% 44,094 85.11% 4,700,760 4.20% 9,513,210 30,055
TAXABLE SALES BY BUSINESS GROUP
For the Fiscal Years 2018-2021
(Dollars in Thousands)
2021 2020 2019 2018
General merchandise (includes discount and department
stores, industrial supply dealers)................................................... $ 56,410,899 $ 45,601,205 $ 41,960,513 $ 38,965,273
Food (includes restaurants, taverns, grocery, vending)…………….. 30,564,158 29,256,742 29,981,154 28,318,061
Lumber & building material (includes material, electrical,
plumbing supply, sheet metal fabricatfon)………………………………… 22,441,929 19,048,555 18,383,205 16,500,032
Automotive (includes dealers, garages, automotfve supply)....... 11,018,415 9,837,130 9,691,420 9,098,884
3% and 4.75% tax group (includes manufactured and modular
homes, boats)................................................................................ 839,260 705,394 647,756 588,128
Furniture (includes stores, appliance dealers, upholstery and
floor covering)…………………………………………………………………………… 5,757,054 5,050,850 5,182,589 4,914,916
Apparel (includes clothing, boot, and shoe stores, shoe repair).. 7,025,959 5,620,937 6,018,989 5,700,497
Unclassified (includes lodging, medical supply, office
equipment, book and school supply)…………………………………………. 50,815,780 44,629,147 44,693,250 41,113,549
Total............................................................................................. $ 184,873,454 $ 159,749,960 $ 156,558,876 $ 145,199,340
General State Sales Tax Rate 4.75% 4.75% 4.75% 4.75%
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 16 Fiscal Year 2021
Demographic and Economic Indicators (cont’d)
PRINCIPAL EMPLOYERS
For the Fiscal Years 2012 & 2021 Table 16
2021 2012
Percentage Percentage
of Total State of Total State
Employees Rank Employment Employees Rank Employment
State of North Carolina............................... 175,000-179,999 1 3.72% 180,000-184,999 1 4.33%
Federal Government................................... 75,000-79,999 2 1.62% 65,000-69,999 2 1.60%
Wal-Mart Associates, Inc............................ 45,000-59,999 3 1.10% 50,000-54,999 3 1.25%
Food Lion LLC…............................................ 40,000-44,999 4 0.89% 25,000-29,999 6 0.65%
Duke University…….………………………….……… 40,000-44,999 5 0.89% 25,000-29,999 4 0.65%
Atrium Health………………………………….......... 35,000-39,999 6 0.79% - -
Wells Fargo Bank NA................................... 30,000-34,999 7 0.68% 20,000-24,999 7 0.53%
Amazon Fulfillment Centers, Inc................. 20,000-24,999 8 0.47% - -
Lowes Home Centers, Inc…………................. 20,000-24,999 9 0.47% - -
Harris Teeter LLC…..…………………………………. 20,000-24,999 10 0.47% - -
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Hospital……..………. - - 25,000-29,999 5 .65%
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Bd of Educatfon….. - - 15,000-19,999 8 .42%
Wake County Public Schools……………………. - - 15,000-19,999 9 .42%
Bank of America NA…………………………………. - - 15,000-19,999 10 .42%
Total............................................................ 500,000-559,990 11.10% 435,000-484,990 10.92%
TEACHERS AND STATE EMPLOYEES BY FUNCTION
For the Fiscal Years 2017-2021
2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
General government........................................... 5,769 5,631 5,501 4,983 5,160
Primary and secondary educatfon...................... 156,712 156,693 155,755 151,263 153,236
Higher educatfon:
Universitfes..................................................... 65,824 67,166 65,697 64,028 63,345
Community colleges....................................... 17,122 17,761 18,095 18,028 18,021
Health and human services................................ 18,270 18,270 18,098 18,038 17,970
Economic development...................................... 2,236 2,554 2,141 2,136 2,340
Environment and natural resources................... 4,222 4,157 4,140 4,128 4,112
Public safety, correctfons and regulatfon........... 34,205 34,963 34,034 34,089 34,009
Transportatfon.................................................... 11,624 11,669 11,666 12,141 12,578
Agriculture.......................................................... 2,136 2,159 2,088 2,082 2,077
Total.................................................................... 318,120 321,023 317,215 310,916 312,848
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 17 Fiscal Year 2021
Education Highlights (Primary and Secondary)
North Carolina public schools are funded through a combinatfon of state funds allotted from the State’s General Fund, federal, and
local funds. The chart below shows expenditures by funding source:
SOURCE OF EXPENDITURES FY 2019 - 20
Of the $9.32 billion State Public School Fund for fiscal year 2019-2020, all but 6.5% was used for salaries and benefits.
HOW STATE FUNDS WERE EXPENDED FY 2019 - 20
Information provided by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 18 Fiscal Year 2021
North Carolina Education Lottery
For the 15th year in a row, the N.C. Educatfon Lottery set a new record for lottery tfcket sales in fiscal year 2020-2021 and set a new
record for money raised for educatfon programs in North Carolina. Ticket sales exceeded $3.8 billion, up 26% year over year. The Lottery
contfnued its record of increasing sales every year of its operatfons. From those sales, the
Lottery also set a new record for the amount of money raised for the State, raising $936
million, up 28.4%, or an additfonal $207.4 million.
Scratch-off tfckets consistently remain to be the Lottery’s most popular product, generatfng
$2.56 billion in sales, or 67% of revenue. Scratch-off sales also set a record, exceeding $2.5
billion for the first tfme ever. The Lottery launched 55 new scratch off games during the
year.
During the year, Lottery players received $2.46 billion in prize money including 102 prizes
of $1 million or more. The biggest prizes won were four $10 million prizes—the largest
scratch-off prizes offered in the state—three in the $100,000 Colossal Cash game and one in the $300,000,000 Supreme Riches game.
Last year, the Lottery averaged $10.4 million a day in tfcket sales, $6.7 million in prizes, and $2.5 million a day raised for educatfon. The
Lottery ended the fiscal year with 7,160 retail locatfons across the State. Those retailers earned $263 million in sales commissions and
incentfves. Total sales since the inceptfon of the Lottery in 2006 stood at $30.5 billion, and the amount of money raised fo r educatfon
climbed to $8.3 billion.
In its annual financial audit, the Lottery received an “unmodified opinion” from independent auditors as it has in all prior annual financial
audits. The Lottery also attained again the World Lottery Associatfon’s Level 4 certfficatfon for its commitment to building the best
practfces in responsible gaming into all of its operatfons. The Lottery received natfonal attentfon for its work in social responsibility,
winning three awards from the Natfonal Council of Problem Gambling for its outstanding work in the area of responsible gaming.
The State Lottery Act directs the Lottery to increase and maximize the available revenues for educatfon purposes. In the 2020-2021 fiscal
year, a breakdown of revenues showed 64.6% went to prizes, 24.6% for educatfon programs, 6.9% in retailer commissions, and the
remaining 3.9% to administratfve expenses.
The Lottery transferred its net profits monthly to the Office of State Budget and Management and into the North Carolina State Lottery
Fund. Funds were then distributed as outlined in the state budget. The General Assembly reports the following allocatfon of money
raised by the Lottery in fiscal year 2020-2021:
• $385.9 million to non-instructfonal support personnel;
• $100 million for the Public School Building Capital Fund, which provides monies to North Carolina countfes to build and repair
schools;
• $75 million to the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund, which provides financial assistance to low-wealth countfes to build new
schools;
• $78.2 million to the N.C. Pre-K program to fund seats in the prekindergarten program for at-risk four-year-olds;
• $30.4 million for N.C. Educatfon Lottery Scholarships, which are awarded based on financial need to students attending a state
university or community college;
• $10.7 million to the UNC Need-Based Grant program, which provides financial aid based on need to students attending one of the 16
UNC system instftutfons and;
• $21.4 million to support school transportatfon for each of the State’s school systems.
The N.C. General Assembly allocates lottery revenues that exceed projectfons to the Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund. With that
decision, $234 million in additfonal monies raised in fiscal year 2020-2021 will go to the Fund. The General Assembly also directed
transfers of $2.1 million in profits to the N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement and $1 million to the N.C. Problem Gambling Program.
Information on this and the next page provided by the North Carolina State Lottery
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 19 Fiscal Year 2021
North Carolina Education Lottery (cont’d)
The following tables illustrate how lottery funds were distributed for educatfon in fiscal year 2021:
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 20 Fiscal Year 2021
Transportation Highlights
Related to the fiscal year 2021, the North Carolina Department of Transportatfon (NCDOT) listed the following as some of its key initfatfves
launched and project advancements:
In March 2021, NCDOT became the first state to use a drone to inspect a bridge. NCDOT used the drone to conduct the biennial
safety inspectfon on the Basnight Bridge over Oregon inlet. Using drones in this way saves tfme, money, and resources on bridge
inspectfons. It also reduces the need for lane closures.
In its third season, more than 16,500 people used the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry this summer and surveys reveal the
passenger ferry is a popular optfon among travelers making a short excursion from Hatteras to Ocracoke. The passenger ferry
enables people to leave their cars behind and take a quicker trip without a long wait from Hatteras directly into the village of
Ocracoke. The vehicle ferries take longer, require wait tfmes, and deliver passengers 12 miles north of the village.
Public transportatfon has been very important during the pandemic. As the pandemic progressed, NCDOT and NCDHHS partnered to
provide people trips to vaccine sites. NCDHHS provided $2.5 million on a program that enables resident to call public transit agencies
in their local communitfes and schedule trips to and from vaccine sites. To date, more than 10,600 people have been served to get
vaccines.
NCDOT has worked with Wilson on the city’s new, on-demand ridesharing service, RIDE. Users have been able to schedule trips
through an app or online and are met by a transit vehicle to bring them to their destfnatfon. Wilmington and Elizabeth City are
expected to begin operatfon of their own on-demand public transit optfons.
JetStream announced an $11 million project to develop additfonal hangar facilitfes for its interior refurbishment at the Global
TransPark in Kinston. The company expects to create about 200 jobs paying an annual salary of about $60,000. The Division of
Aviatfon provided funding and technical assistance for the projects.
The Dig Once Policy, which took effect March 1, helps expand broadband access in the state by making it less expensive and easier to
install broadband conduit along state-maintained roads. Internet service providers (ISPs) must advertfse their project so other ISPs
can install their fiber optfc cable when the trench is dug for the conduit. Multfple ISPs will share the costs for fiber installatfon.
More than 600 NCDOT employees helped people in western North Carolina recover after Tropical Depression Fred devastated the
area in August. Almost all of the 60 roads closed were reopened within a week.
The Carolina Connector Intermodal facility opened in Edgecombe County. The 330-acre site allows trucks to bring cargo containers to
a rail yard, where they are transferred to trains for transport. This helps regional industries distribute their products natfonwide and
spur business development across the region. The connector will help create 1,500 jobs and aid the local economy.
Information provided by the North Carolina Department of Transportation
Pettigrew State Park
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 21 Fiscal Year 2021
Award for Outstanding Achievement
The Government Finance Officers Associatfon of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has given an Award for
Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reportfng to the State of North Carolina for its Popular Annual
Financial Report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2020. The Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual
Financial Reportfng is a prestfgious natfonal award recognizing conformance with the highest standards for preparatfon
of state and local government popular reports.
To receive an Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reportfng, a government unit must
publish a Popular Annual Financial Report whose contents conform to program standards of creatfvity, presentatfon,
understandability and reader appeal.
An Award for Outstanding Achievement in Popular Annual Financial Reportfng is valid for a period of one year only.
The State of North Carolina has received a Popular Award for the last 23 consecutfve years (fiscal years ended 1998-
2020). We believe our current report contfnues to conform to the Popular Annual Financial Reportfng requirements,
and we are submitting it to the GFOA.
25 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $193.62 or $7.74 per copy.
Fiscal Year 2018
Office of the State Controller Page 22 Fiscal Year 2021
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