RALEIGH — The North Carolina Local Government Commission approved dozens of projects totaling around $736 million at its August meeting.
Projects greenlit by the Local Government Commission (LGC) ranged from stormwater management and affordable housing to funding for critical infrastructure and community development.
State Treasurer Dale Folwell, who chairs the LGC, emphasized the commission’s role in ensuring fiscal responsibility.
“Our duty is to carefully examine each proposal to ensure that the amount borrowed is both adequate and reasonable for the proposed projects, and that the governmental units can afford to repay the debt,” Folwell stated.
The largest piece of funding approved was for Charlotte, securing $205 million in revenue bonds for stormwater projects to fortify the city’s defenses against flooding and improve overall water management.
Cabarrus County received approval for $186 million in limited obligation bonds to fund multiple general government projects. The approval came after extended discussions in both the July and current LGC meetings, ultimately passing with a 7-1 vote.
Other significant approvals included $75 million for Johnston County’s water and sewer system improvements and Pender County getting approval for $68 million to construct a comprehensive law enforcement center. In Wake County, Holly Springs secured $42 million for a new operations center.
Wake County’s Housing Authority received approval for more than $40 million in various conduit revenue bond requests related to creating affordable housing.
The approvals also extended to smaller projects like Mebane’s $7.6 million for a spillway replacement in Lake Michael Park and Morrisville’s $1.7 million for street and sidewalk repairs.
The LGC also approved resolutions to return financial control to the town of Eureka in Wayne County and the Cliffside Sanitary District in Rutherford County after successful efforts by both entities were made to correct financial deficiencies.
Other approvals granted at the August meeting included:
• $37.5 million for New Hanover County for a library, fire stations and other facilities
• $30 million for Asheville (Buncombe County) for water system improvements
• $22 million for Person County for building acquisitions and improvements
• $11 million for Stokes County for courthouse expansion
• $5.1 million for Durham Housing Authority for multifamily rental housing development
• $2.6 million for Belmont (Gaston County) for vehicle purchases
• $1.8 million for Wallace (Duplin and Pender counties) for pump station rehabilitation
LGC members also approved financing for multiple “lead service line inventories” for several municipalities throughout the state that include Belmont (Gaston County), Burnsville (Yancey County), Eden (Rockingham County), Gates County, Hobgood (Halifax County), Kinston (Lenoir County), Laurinburg (Scotland County), Newton (Catawba County), Ranlo (Gaston County), Richmond County, Troy (Montgomery County) and Weldon (Halifax County).
