Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
11 < <br />DISPARITIES IN REAL ESTATE WEALTH <br />TOP QUARTILE <br />SECOND QUARTILE <br />THIRD QUARTILE <br />BOTTOM QUARTILE <br />SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING REMAINS CRUCIAL <br />In 1991, the state enacted supplemental funds for low-wealth <br />and small counties, in part to address the limited capacity <br />that some counties have to raise revenues through taxation <br />because of their limited local resources and size. In 2015-16 the <br />General Assembly provided an appropriation of $193.1 million <br />for 68 low-wealth counties (79 districts) and $41.5 million for <br />25 small counties. <br />Low-wealth supplemental funding is provided to systems <br />whose ability to generate local revenue per student is below <br />the state average. Some of the factors used to determine <br />eligibility are county adjusted property tax base, square miles <br />in the county, and per capita income. In 2015-16, low-wealth <br />eligible counties received total low-wealth supplemental funding <br />ranging from $1,078 to $16.9 million. Per-student dollars ranged <br />from $0.55 (Mitchell) to $720.76 (Robeson). <br />Small county supplemental funding is provided to systems <br />whose ability to generate local revenue per student is below <br />the state average. Some of the factors used to determine <br />eligibility are county adjusted property tax base, square miles <br />in the county, and per capita income. In 2015-16, low-wealth <br />eligible counties received total low-wealth supplemental funding <br />ranging from $1,078 to $16.9 million. Per-student dollars ranged <br />from $0.55 (Mitchell) to $720.76 (Robeson). <br />As counties play an increasingly larger role in funding their <br />schools, disparities in resources available to counties can be <br />illustrated by dividing the state into quartiles according to <br />adjusted property wealth available per child. The top quartile <br />includes high-growth Piedmont and mountain and beach resort <br />areas, which had an average of $1,421,190.97 real estate wealth <br />available per child - $640,348 above the state average. The <br />bottom quartile has $424,588.54 real estate wealth available per <br />child - $356,254.71 below the state average. The map illustrates <br />where counties in each quartile are located throughout the state. <br />In 2015-16, 32 counties were above the state average property <br />wealth of $780,843.25 available per child, while 68 counties were <br />below the state average. <br />If the bottom seven counties’ total current spending were combined, <br />they would still spend $290 less per child than Orange County spends <br />by itself. <br />SPENDING DISPARITIES <br />ORANGE $4,852 CLAY $913 <br />COLUMBUS $902 <br />GREENE $736 <br />GRAHAM $632 <br />HOKE$560 <br />ROBESON $525 <br />SWAIN $395 <br />$4,000 <br />$3,000 <br />$2,000 <br />$1,000