Federal aid has become an increasingly dominant component of state budgets. In fact, Louisiana and Arkansas rely on the federal government for more than 50 percent of their revenue, and 16 states have dependency rates over one-third. (North Carolina receives 33 percent of revenue from federal aid.)

While this money may be tempting to state officials, the Mercatus Center at George Mason University has shown that the long-term mandates translate into greater expenses than the aid. After expiration, state and local taxes tend to ratchet up by 40 percent of the initial revenue infusion.

Today’s analysis from Don Carrington of the Carolina Journal shows how even a case of aid touted in one of Obama’s speeches to North Carolinians is transparently counterproductive. The White House press release claimed 13,400 education jobs, alongside $900 million in funds.

However, a simple calculation from Carrington shows that this money will only last one year, while the bill mandates that the state “meet the requirements” for an additional two years.

A White House spokeswoman told Carolina Journal that the bill includes no unfunded mandates. But unless North Carolina picks up the funding for these positions after the first year, it’s unclear how the teachers and first responders supported by it would be paid.

One year’s worth of funding coupled with three years worth of mandates is supposed to generate our gratitude? Go on, pull the other one.