County supports governor's bond plan
By Steve Herring
Published in News on June 21, 2015 1:50 AM
Gov. Pat McCrory says he cannot commit to specific requests for Wayne County in his $2.85 billion state bond proposal, Wayne County Commission Chairman Wayne Aycock said last week.
"But in my conversation with the governor, I feel confident we are going to be all right," Aycock told the board of commissioners on Tuesday. "But there is nothing in writing. It was just a phone conversation."
But that confidence did not stop commissioners from seeking assurances in their resolution supporting the bond for at least $10.1 million -- $3 million for Wayne Community College and $7.1 million for a proposed agriculture/convention center.
Commissioner Bill Pate, who made the motion to adopt the resolution, said he understands the concerns and supports both projects.
However, he warned board members they might miss an opportunity if they failed to act on the resolution.
Commissioner Joe Gurley amended Pate's motion to support the resolution, to include the agriculture/convention center and WCC.
Commissioners approved the amended motion unanimously.
"Mr. Chairman, the ones who were in touch with the governor's staff were assured that this is just a road map," Commissioner Ray Mayo said. "It is not set in stone. I guess it is a matter of whether we feel like that is trustworthy or not as whether we support the bond referendum."
Gurley said he understood that, but said that his concern is Wayne County and its citizens.
"I want to make sure they are taken care of," Gurley said. "I'd rather have something in writing than a promissory note."
Commissioner John Bell agreed, noting that he wants to see the eastern North Carolina get its "fair share" and that not all of the benefit go to the western part of the state.
"Instead of putting it as a condition, perhaps word it to say it's the recommendation of the board of commissioners that our legislative delegation negotiate the two points that we want," County Manager George Wood said. "That way you are making it clear that's the direction we want to see it go. But you are not making it a condition of your support.
"I am not sure they (legislators) can go that far. That would put it in writing that is where you want it to go and you're asking the legislative delegation and governor's office to consider these priorities as they negotiate."
The board agreed to a suggestion from County Attorney Borden Parker that a paragraph be added to the resolution that the county asks its legislative delegation to secure the requested funding for the local projects.
McCrory is promoting a $2.85 billion bond for transportation systems and other public infrastructure. McCrory says the bond proposal will allow the state to pay for 50-year assets with 20-year financing and no tax increase.
The plan calls for a $1.48 billion infrastructure bond and $1.37 billion for highways.
Several commissioners, including Gurley, said they were concerned about the 11th-hour request to support the resolution.
Aycock said that much of Monday had been spent working on the resolution, but that even then he was not completely satisfied with the wording.
"It appears as if Gov. McCrory has reached out to the legislators and has asked their input on some discussion of what projects may be included in the bond proposal," Commissioner Joe Daughtery said. "I would urge that our legislators and the governor's office would substitute the cost of demolition to (the old) Cherry Hospital, which is currently in the proposal. It is $7.1 million, approximately.
"That rather than spend those funds to tear down and demolish Cherry Hospital that those funds be used to used for the regional agricultural convention center here in Wayne County. I would urge that our legislators and governor's office work to have that included in that proposal."
Gurley said he had spoken to some people last week who told him they had been contacted about the resolution and that he had been told $3.1 million is designated for WCC.
"Has anybody seen that in written language?" he said.
Wood said he had not seen it written down, but had talked to Don Magoon, WCC chief of administrative services.
"I don't recall the exact figure, but it was somewhere in that neighborhood," Wood said. "What he conveyed to me was that they were requested by the governor's office to identify how they would like to use that (bond money).
"The bulk of that they put down for the advanced manufacturing center to do the capital outlay on that which of course would help our budget because we are responsible for their facilities."
Gurley said the issue had been ongoing for a month or so, but that the resolution had "kind of been thrown" on him in a rush Tuesday morning.
"As I recall reading the earlier information received some of the things in there, to me, looked very frivolous," he said. "Has the House and Senate come on board and supported this?"
"What we are thinking is that they are going to basically revisit this whole thing and come up with a set of priorities," Wood said.
Gurley said he wanted to be careful not to jeopardize what the Legislature appropriations have been during any discussions.
"The way I understand it now, we would not be jeopardizing that," Wood said. "We are going on record saying we would like to see it passed, but with the understanding that the House and Senate will have input along with the governor's office on basically revisiting the priorities.
"So this give us an opportunity to talk to our legislative delegation. We have also reached out and spoken with the governor's office about it. So they are fully aware that that is our priority and that it is the priority we are going to be conveying to our legislative delegation."