Audit Report Finds NCDOT Stuck to Budget for 2024

Raleigh, N.C.

Jan 15, 2025

A new report from the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor (OSA) shows the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) followed its budget plan for state fiscal year 2024.

In its latest audit report, OSA found that NCDOT spent $7.68 billion from July 2023 through June 2024 - below the planned $8.26 billion. Spending did not exceed the original forecast in any of the four expenditure categories.

"One of the worst things a government can do is large-scale overspending. We see it far too often in Washington, but it's not completely foreign to North Carolina either. I'll always strive to expose government waste, but I'll also highlight fiscal responsibility," State Auditor Dave Boliek said. "The state Department of Transportation stuck to its budget this past fiscal year, which will only help as infrastructure needs mount in Western North Carolina. I'm grateful to the audit team for putting in the hard work necessary to produce this financial assessment."

The full audit report can be found online here. In the official Auditor's Transmittal to Gov. Josh Stein, North Carolina General Assembly members, Secretary of the Department of Transportation Joey Hopkins, and Chairman of the Board of Transportation Michael S. Fox, State Auditor Boliek wrote:

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is charged with core responsibilities including the building, repairing, and improving of North Carolina's roads and bridges. The work done by the department impacts citizens, businesses, and governments across the state. The audit report released today by the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor shows the department followed its 2024 spending plan as designed, and in doing so, stayed within the lanes of its budget while fulfilling transportation duties.

This marks a significant turnaround from five years ago when our office found the department exceeded its budget by over $700 million - a hole that required substantial state funding to alleviate. Our report shows no such deficit exists today. This should help the department as it works to meet the infrastructure needs of North Carolina's growing economy, and the repair needs in Western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene.

We appreciate the courtesy and cooperation received from management and the employees of the department during our audit, and encourage participation by all government entities in the future. The Secretary of the Department of Transportation has received and reviewed a draft copy of this report, and his written comments are included on page 14.

The audits we conduct provide valuable insight into the financial health of government entities that are utilized daily by North Carolinians. It benefits all to know their governments are being held accountable.

Respectfully submitted,

Dave Boliek

State Auditor

Randy Brechbiel

[email protected]