The North Carolina Budget and Tax Center forgot a big portion of the General Fund in its latest report on the state budget – the $1.6 billion in federal bailout cash.
With that money, spending remains at $20.6 billion. Adjusting for population and inflation, this equates to $2,143. To find lower per capita spending, we only have to go back to 2005.
UPDATE: Per capita, inflation-adjusted spending FY2002-FY2011
| 2002 | $2,141 | 2007 | $2,270 | |
| 2003 | $2,054 | 2008 | $2,349 | |
| 2004 | $2,054 | 2009 | $2,324 | |
| 2005 | $2,106 | 2010 | $2,177 | |
| 2006 | $2,167 | 2011 | $2,143 |
