Folwell Reflects on His Accomplishments as State Treasurer
Dale Folwell wraps up his tenure as state treasurer, proud of his achievements in managing funds and advocating for lower healthcare costs
Dale Folwell, North Carolina, State Treasurer, Healthcare Costs, Pension Plan
Raleigh: Dale Folwell has officially wrapped up his second term as North Carolina’s state treasurer. He stepped down this week as Brad Briner took over the role.
Folwell’s time in office was all about managing the state’s pension plan, pushing for lower healthcare costs, and handling bond obligations. He’s pretty proud of what he accomplished.
In a recent chat, he mentioned, “I’m most proud of being the best treasurer money can’t buy.” He really focused on advocating for those who often go unnoticed and tried to bring a sense of common sense to the office.
Folwell, who’s 66, first got elected in 2017. This year, he aimed for the Republican nomination for governor but didn’t make it.
He explained that being treasurer means being “the keeper of the public purse,” managing a whopping $260 billion. That’s a huge responsibility, especially since half of that goes to the pension plan for state and local employees.
“Nearly a million people who teach, protect, and serve depend on it,” he said, highlighting the importance of the pension fund.
Folwell has also been vocal about the high healthcare costs in North Carolina. He’s not shy about calling out the corporations that he believes are making it tough for people to afford care.
He pointed out that healthcare is the only thing people consume without knowing the price or value until it’s too late. It’s a real struggle for many.
His office has been in talks with healthcare systems like Atrium and Novant to try and lower prices. He’s even labeled these systems as “cartels.”
Folwell believes the General Assembly could quickly make North Carolina a go-to place for affordable healthcare by changing some laws and holding corporations accountable.
Throughout his time, he focused on the “invisible” people who rely heavily on the state pension and health plan for security.
He proudly shared that his office has managed to retire 60% of the state’s obligation debt, which he claims is a rare feat.
Another part of his job was chairing the Local Government Commission, which keeps an eye on city and county finances.
Folwell mentioned that one of the biggest hurdles was getting the General Assembly to understand that they only ask for what they truly need. They’re always trying to save every penny.
Despite the challenges, he found joy in helping people through programs like NCCASH, where folks can check if they have unclaimed money waiting for them.
He’s thrilled that they’ve smashed previous records in payouts, going from about $50 million to over $610 million in just eight years.
Curious if you have cash waiting? Check out nccash.com to find out.
After a long political career, Folwell is ready to enjoy the simpler things in life, like spending time with family, God, and working on motorcycles.