Unsustainable rates of growth in government spending is a problem at the federal and state levels. Lawmakers in most states, both blue and red, are growing government spending at an unsustainable rate, more rapidly than population growth and inflation. Yet a number of states have demonstrated over the past decade that fiscal restraint and conservative budgeting is an achievable goal.

In the decade from 2014 to 2023, total state outlays (both state funds and federal transfer funds) in six states (Alaska, Colorado, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Wyoming) grew at a slower pace than the rate of population growth plus inflation, also referred to as the fiscally sustainable growth rate (SGR). In another six states (Louisiana, Massachusetts, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island), state spending (state funds only, not including federal transfers) grew at a slower pace than the SGR. Yet even in states where lawmakers have practiced sustainable budgeting, runaway spending by local governments remains a challenge.

North Carolina is one of the states where lawmakers kept growth of state spending over the past decade below the rate of population growth plus inflation. While state legislators in Raleigh, led by Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R) and Speaker Tim Moore (R), are practicing budgetary restraint, local officials in Raleigh are not.

Take the new FY 2025 city budget recently proposed by the Raleigh City Council, which totals $1.44 billion. That represents a nearly 12% increase from the current budget.

If the Raleigh City Council were to craft a new spending plan that instead grew city spending in line with the rate of inflation and population growth, which is 6.56%, they would need to enact a budget that spends $1.36 billion next year, not the proposed $1.43 billion. A new city budget that grew in line with population growth plus inflation, which the General Assembly down the street has demonstrated is attainable for more than a decade, would save Raleigh taxpayers more than $66 million next year.

Basic math demonstrates that Raleigh officials could provide signifiant relief to taxpayers through more sustainable budgeting. As Senator Berger, Speaker Moore, and their colleagues have demonstrated for years, meaningful taxpayer savings doesn’t not necessitate drastic spending cuts or a slashing of services, but more modest rates of growth.

By keeping growth in state spending below the rate of population growth plus inflation, North Carolina has realized repeated budget surpluses at the same time lawmakers have returned billions to taxpayers through rate-reducing income tax reform that has brought the state’s top income tax rate from 7.75% down to 4.5% in the matter of a decade. Thanks to this fiscal restraint on the part of the North Carolina General Assembly, state government is much trimmer in size than was the case a decade ago.

“For several decades – from the mid-1970’s up until the Republican takeover of the General Assembly in 2011 – North Carolina’s state budget hovered between 6% and 7% of the state’s economy,” the NC Budget Center, a progressive outfit, reported in 2021. “Thanks to big tax and spending cuts enacted by the General Assembly, state outlays began to plummet, reaching their nadir during the current fiscal year at around 4.54% of the state’s economy.”

The NC Budget Center and other progressive organizations bemoan the fact that, relative to the size of the North Carolina economy, state government is now much leaner than it was prior to the 2010 GOP takeover of the state legislature. Yet, proving the adage that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, many others, including most North Carolina legislators, view that same trend as one to brag about, particularly on the campaign trail.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — Local tourism officials, businesses, and universities are taking part in the Esports Travel Summit in Raleigh as they look to draw future events to the state.

“People are here. So, (it’s) one thing to hear about it, read about it, even see videos, but actually physically coming in and seeing what they’re able to offer and all the great things that we have here, how nice of an area it actually is,” said Caleb Smith, co-founder of North Carolina Esports Academy in Cary.

A report by PLAYHRDR Advisors, the Greater Raleigh Esports Organizing Committee and students from the Niner Esports program at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte listed Raleigh as a “Top 5 Major Esports Event Host Destination between 2021 and 2023.”

“Raleigh as a destination is just amazing. The team is so involved and dedicated to Esports and this is the state-of-the-art. We would love to see this across the US with all the governments and cities involved as much as Raleigh is. We are hoping to find more opportunities in the future to bring more events to Raleigh,” said Jascha Braeker, a Hospitality Manager with ESL FACEIT Group.

Previous Esports events at PNC Arena and the Raleigh Convention Center have generated millions in economic impact, including hotel books, restaurant, and retail sales. The growing presence has also been felt at the university level, with NC State utilizing a $16 million grant from the state to expand its operations.

“We are in the process of developing an Esports arena that will be opening up in a couple of years in Raleigh,” said Cody Elsen, NC State’s Esports Program Director.

Currently, it’s treated as an extracurricular activity.

“We have over 1,000 students that are involved in Esports at NC State right now in the club, but we will definitely do varsity competitive teams at some point with structure, coaching, staff, resources,” said Elsen.

Elsen explained they are working to bring events to campus, noting possible locations include Reynolds Coliseum and Hunt Library.

“A lot of the science, technology, engineering and math goes into this. Tons of analytic work, analyzing things within the game and out of the game. Then obviously it’s digital, like the marketing side, the business management,” said Elsen.

The establishment of such programs is a consideration for students at community colleges looking at furthering their education.

“I teach them soft skills that are leadership, time management, decision making under duress,” added Tu Nguyen, the Esports Coach at Guilford Technical Community College “It is 100% a question for every student-athlete I have. They will immediately ask, ‘Are there any staff-led or coach-led situations in North Carolina?’”

Drawing events to the region has also allowed students hands-on networking opportunities while allowing them to gain experience.

“What really appeals to me about being this close to Raleigh is that they can come here and there are often volunteer opportunities,” said Dwayne Meekins, the Esports Coordinator at North Carolina A&T University.

On Friday, the North Carolina Esports Summit will be held at the Raleigh Convention Center, with NC Varsity Esports + STEM League High School Championship held Saturday and Sunday.

Preparing for their second season in the American Athletic Conference, the North Texas picked up a late commitment to bolster their defensive line group.

6’4″ 249-pound Terrell Dawkins announced his commitment to North Texas on X Thursday after spending the last two seasons in the SEC with the South Carolina Gamecocks. He will have one season of eligibility remaining.

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2024 will mark Dawkins’ sixth season of college football. He spent 2019, 2020, and 2021 at NC State and then transferred to Columbia for 2022 and 2023. Over the course of the previous five seasons, he has appeared in 35 games with six starts. His most productive season came in 2020 when he totaled 36 tackles with nine tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.

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Following that 2020 season, Dawkins struggled to return to form, dealing with the effects of multiple lower body injuries. The North Carolina native’s career tackle total is 45.

North Texas are slated to being the 2024 campaign at South Alabama on August 31 after a 5-7 record last season.