In keeping with the spirit of transparency, the North Carolina Department of Transportation adheres to a weekly tradition that might seem mundane but is crucial for fiscal oversight. Per Session Law 2019-251 as mandated by the N.C. General Assembly, the NCDOT releases their "Weekly Cash Watch Numbers" every Friday—or the closest business day when holidays interfere. This report offers a peek into the state’s transportation spending and income, down to the penny.
The North Carolina public has a right the know where its money flows, especially when it funds the veins and arteries of the state: our roads and transit systems. In line with this decree, the latest figures were made available last Friday on the NCDOT website. The release includes all the critical numbers: starting cash balances, receipts, disbursements in broad strokes, and the ending combined cash balance.
There's more to the document than just those topline figures, however. It also delves into the "reserved cash" balances, which are earmarked for specific projects. These sums sit in what's known as a "Trustee Account" until they are ready to be dispatched as payment for work on projects funded by various bonds such as Build NC, GARVEE, or allocations like the Energy Savings-Roadway lighting funds.
The official financial status of the NCDOT isn't set in stone until the monthly closing, at which point the weekly reports will have been reconciled.
