To maintain transparency and comply with legal requirements, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) continues to publish its weekly “NCDOT Cash Watch Numbers” report. This financial snapshot, mandated by Session Law 2019-251 of the N.C. General Assembly, is made available for public viewing, according to an NCDOT press release.
The latest installment of this fiscal diary was released this past Friday, outlining the Department's expenditures and reserved cash for specific projects like those funded through Build NC bonds, GARVEE bonds, or Energy Savings-Roadway lighting funds. Despite the variations inherent in week-to-week figures, the officially sanctioned monthly cash balance is determined only after precise reconciliation of line items at month’s end, which means these weekly reports, while informative, don't paint the full picture of NCDOT's financial situation.
It's worth noting that even when state offices are darkened in observance of holidays, the department ensures the release and report meet the eyes of the public on the nearest working day – a commitment to their principle of open governance. Each report lists receipts and disbursements in broad categories starting with the previous report's combined cash balance and concluding with the current ending combined cash balance; the reports are diligently collected and available for view on the NCDOT’s website.
While NCDOT’s finances change daily with incoming and outgoing funds, the weekly "Cash Watch" offers a steady snapshot of how public money is being used and what projects it's supporting. However, these numbers are only temporary indicators—the official monthly total is what truly matters for assessing the state's financial health.
