Charlotte The Biggest Loser, Raleigh a Close Second in Fight For Stimulus Money
October 30th, 2009 Categories: About Charlotte
Charlotte NC
The Stimulus Plan and Charlotte- State Politics at Work Again AS Charlotte Receives $34.09 PP, Lenoir County $744 PP
Everyone is familiar with the national brouhaha behind The Economic Recovery Act, aka the stimulus plan… Is it possible that, at the State level, the funds could have been politically hijacked, and sent to primarily rural political strongholds in the state? It is possible that the rural interests gain once again at the expense of the cities that pay the state’s bills?
Most of us remember the loud political fight over the Stimulus plan, the denial that it would improve anything, that it was all just a boondoggle, and that is now credited with the 3.5% 3rd quarter growth in US GDP. The same bill that not a single Republican supported.
The Stimulus invested $563,065, 282 in North Carolina, and of that $512,689,234 is “Under Contract”, or allocated presumably with “shovel-ready ” projects and contractors from around the state. Much of this data comes from ProPublica*
How was it decided who would get what?
North Carolina, 10th largest state in the nation, was treated fairly by the Federal Government. It has received the 9th largest State Stimulus Check at $563,065,282.
Where have the Federal Stimulus funds been allocated in North Carolina?
Since the Charlotte area is, by far, the largest county by population in NC , the largest contributor to state GDP, it is logical to assume we are receiving the largest amount for stimulus funding, right? No, not exactly.
Surely it is Raleigh? No, not Raleigh either. Have a look for your self:
| 2006 US **Census estimated | |||
| Project $* | population | Stimulus per person $/pp |
|
| Cumberland | $54,589,053.00 | 299060 | $182.54 |
| Lenoir | $42,926,208.00 | 57662 | $744.45 |
| Iredell | $33,310,466.00 | 146206 | $227.83 |
| Mecklenburg | $28,209,711.00 | 827445 | $34.09 |
| Wake | $28,168,890.00 | 786522 | $35.81 |
| Guilford | $21,660,762.00 | 451905 | $47.93 |
| Alamance | $19,872,081.00 | 142661 | $139.30 |
| Johnston | $18,891,975.00 | 152143 | $124.17 |
| Buncombe | $17,685,375.00 | 222174 | $79.60 |
| Watauga | $16,637,727.00 | 42700 | $389.64 |
| Martin | $11,311,611.00 | 24342 | $464.70 |
Mecklenburg County, with a larger population that Cumberland, Lenoir and Iredell combined, receives21% of their Total spending. There were 25 counties who received nothing, $0, so technically they are the biggest losers, but at $34.09, Mecklenburg County would have had to work to do worse.
Mayor McCrory was right when he feared, out loud in the Spring, that Charlotte wouldn’t get its fair share of stimulus spending.
Let’s look at spending in NC Congressional Districts, maybe that will shed some light…
The NCs 5th Congressional District, the former district of now Senator and chief NC stimulus critic, Senator Richard Burr, collected $95,506,098 of Stimulus spending. The 5th District seat is currently held by Virgina Foxx, Republican Congress woman, best known for her rants that the killing of Matthew Sheppherd in Wyoming wasn’t a hate crime.
In 2nd place, NC-01, at $44,066,742 in the swarming metropolis of East NC, held by Democrat George Butterfield. This is the area around Rocky Mount and Elizabeth city, Oxford and … New Bern. Anyone special live in New Bern?
In 3d place, NC-11, Democrat Heath Shuler’s district, covering the western area of Franklin, Murphy, Asheville
In 4th Place, NC-04, at $31,263,844 -the 4th is held by Democrat David Price, and covers the area around Chapel Hill, Mebane, and east to Cary.
In 5th place, NC-08, at $25,7904,268 Democrats Larry Kissell, is the first to come Charlotte’s way, includes East Charlotte, Concord, on to Fayetteville and Laurinburg
Sue Myrick’s 12th District? $0 so far, along with NC-13.
Are you getting the picture here? I ask the question again, “Who Decided?”
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* Spending information came from the public interest ProPublica
** Population estimates cam from US-Places
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