03/28/2024
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By: Charlotte Smith

The Connect NC meeting hosted by Fayetteville State University with Governor Pat McCrory brings many regional leaders together. Bladen County was represented by County Commissioner Chair Charles Ray Peterson, Mayor of Dublin, Horace Wyatt, Bladen Community College President, Dr. Bill Findt, and Bladen Community College Board of Trustees Chair, Dennis Troy.

According to statistics North Carolina is the ninth most populous state and growing. Connect NC is about investing in our future with an infrastructure bond and highway/transportation bond. According to ConnectNC.gov the need is clear. The Infrastructure Bond would give $1.48 billion to 64 counties in NC funding 101 projects. The Highway Bond would give $1.37 billion to 57 counties funding 27 highway projects that are needed and would fund the paving of 176 non-paved roads.

Connect NC says that the solutions the bonds will bring to NC are beneficial to communities from the mountains, to the piedmont, to the coast. Projects include investments in both small rural areas and in large urban cities. The highway bond is estimated to create 12,700 short-term and 4,300 long-term jobs. The infrastructure bond is estimated to create between 15,000 and 16,000 jobs.

The breakdown of the bonds given at today’s meeting for the South Central Region were as follows:

Infrastructure Bond:
Bladen County would receive $767,000 for improving Singletary Lake State Park. Columbus County would receive $2,008,000 for improving Lake Waccamaw State Park. Cumberland County would receive funds for Fayetteville State University Lyons Science Building renovation totaling 10,616,000 and Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune would receive funds for road improvements totaling $11,000,000. More County would receive $28,000,000 to convert Samarkand to a statewide law-enforcement center. Robeson County would receive $10,000,000 for UNC Pembroke’s west hall renovation. Scotland, Hoke, Robeson and Columbus Counties would receive $3,505,000 to improve Lumber River State Park.

Transportation Bond:

Cumberland County would receive $47,903,000 for the All-American Freeway and $54,500,000 would go to Cumberland and Robeson Counties for the I-295 project. Montgomery County would receive $44,650,000 for the N.C. 24/27 project. The U.S. 1 project in Richmond County would be funded with $16,800,000. Sampson County’s N.C. 24 project would be funded $34,204,000. The un-paved secondary roads paving projects would be funded with $1,381,500.

According to Connect NC, North Carolina has an established and successful history of responsibly using long term financing for infrastructure that supports the needs of a growing state population. Lee Roberts, NC’s Budget Director said today, “We have a triple A credit rating and we will do nothing to jeopardize that. Wells Fargo has announced they expect interest rates to go up by the end of the year.” ConnectNC.gov reports each 0.25% increase in interest rates would cost $7.5 million in the first year alone. According to Roberts 75% of our existing debt will be paid off within 5 years if these bond referendums are put into place.

The Governor, Pat McCrory said, “Interest rates are at the lowest rate right now. If we don’t do these bond referendums now they won’t be done for another decade.”

When referring to Connect NC’s proposed bond referendums, Governor McCrory said, “This is a comprehensive, strategic plan. We have not had a bond referendum in 15 years in NC. If we wait it’s going to cost us more. If we wait it’s going to cause congestion. We are going to have another 10 year delay with out ports, our zoo, our colleges. If we do not do bonds we will not get these projects done for another 10 years. We need to get this on the ballot and let the people vote.”

The next step requested by Connect NC is to appoint delegates to help finalize the project list with Administration representatives and vote by the end of June to place on the November ballot. To find out more visit: http://connect.nc.gov.

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