Finance reports due this week show Rowan County Democrats with a significant lead over local Republicans in cash on hand.

The Rowan County Democratic Party has $4,779.42 in cash on hand, according to the party’s mid-year finance report. It’s more than seven times times as much as the Rowan County Republican Party, which has $624.19, according to the latest finance reports.

The mid-year finance reports were due this week, and include contributions from Jan. 1 to June 30. Cash on hand numbers include donations left over from prior reporting periods.

Donations of less than $50 were most frequent during the mid-year reporting period. In total, the Democrats raised $1,656 in the donations less than $50.

The Rowan Democrats also received a long list of donations greater than $50. The largest donations amounts were: $900 from the Democratic Women; $200 from former Register of Deeds Bobbie Earnhardt; $200 from Salisbury resident Nan Lund; and $200 from Salisbury resident Carol Drinkard.

Salisbury City Councilwoman Karen Alexander donated $100 to the party during the period included in mid-year reports.

In total, the Rowan Democrats raised nearly $6,100 from Jan. 1 to June 30. The party had $3,300.32 in expenses.

Nearly all of the Rowan County Republican Party’s donations from Jan. 1 to June 30 came on March 7 — the date of the Rowan Republican county convention. All donations on March 7 were for $10. The $10 donations raised a total of $1,418.79 for the party.

The party’s only other contribution was an in-kind donation from Candy Shoppe on Main owner Nancy Vick for candy to hand out at events. Vick also donated on March 7. The total amount of donations from Vick totaled $246.66.

The Rowan County Republican Party raised $1,696.37 during from Jan. 1 to June 30. It spent $1,212.25.

The next reporting deadline for political parties is Jan. 1, 2016.

Brock leads in mid-year reports for legislators

State Sen. Andrew Brock, R-34, leads all legislators with districts in Rowan by a good margin. However, Rowan’s state legislators received few, if any, donations from Jan. 1 to Jun. 30.

Brock’s latest campaign reports show $32,062 on hand. State Rep. Harry Warren, R-77, was second among Rowan legislators with nearly $25,000 on hand.

Sen. Tom McInnis, R-25, was next with $5,244 on hand. Rep. Carl Ford had $1,349 in cash on hand at the end of the mid year reporting period.

McInnis raised the most from individuals during the period — $461.02 — but Warren received the most money during the reporting period.

Warren received $1,250 from political action committees and $1,088.88 in loans from himself.

Donation’s to Warren’s campaign from political action committees included $250 from Delhaize America PAC and $1,000 from the North Carolina Chamber PAC.

Brock received a $250 donation from the Delhaize PAC.

Ford didn’t receive any donations during the mid year reporting period. Ford, however, spent the most money from Jan. 1 to June 30.

At the beginning of the period, Ford had $7,418.14 in his campaign committee account.

The largest single expense from Ford’s campaign during the mid-year reporting period was to the N.C. Republican House Caucus. Ford donated $5,000 to the house caucus.

State releases fiscal year’s final figures

Gov. Pat McCrory this week released final budget figures for North Carolina’s just ended fiscal year 15.

At the end of fiscal year 15 — June 30 — North Carolina had a $445 million surplus, according to a statement issued by McCrory.

McCrory’s statement said the surplus is mostly the product of a strong surge in final businesses’ tax payments in April. The payments were up 15 to 20 percent over fiscal year 2014.

McCrory’s statement further said revenues have met the trigger required for further corporate tax relief under the 2013 tax reform plan. A one percent reduction in the corporate tax rate will become effective on January 1, 2016, making North Carolina’s corporate income tax rate the lowest top rate in the country at four percent, according to McCrory’s statement.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.