Around $91 million in the state’s $30 billion budget is coming to Columbus County.
Rep. Brenden Jones and Sen. Bill Rabon announced the funding Thursday. Gov. Roy Cooper said in a statement that he will allow the budget to become law without his signature, but criticized Republican legislators for increasing school choice, expanding vouchers, and only providing a seven percent pay raise for teachers.
Jones is chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee.
The projects include
- $15.6 million to Columbus County for water and sewer projects.
- $12.5 million for capital improvements and equipment at Southeastern Community College
- $11.75 million in grant funding from the Transportation Reserve for improvements to the Columbus County Airport.”
- $9 million for improvements at the Town of Tabor City Industrial Park.
- $12.3 million to Fair Bluff for building demolition, capital improvements, the Carver School community center, and flood resiliency projects. The Fair Bluff Chamber of Commerce will also receive $250,000 for development. The Historical Society there will receive $50,000 for operations.
- $4 to the Columbus Jobs Foundation for a walkway and trail project, and related capital
improvements.
- $4 million for a new solid waste transfer station.
- $4 million for water and sewer improvements at Lake Waccamaw.
- $3.5 million for a new DMV/Highway Patrol office in Whiteville.
- $5.3 to Lake Waccamaw for improvements to the dam and town hall.
- $1.05 million in directed grant funds to Chadbourn.
- $980,000 to the sheriff’s office to upgrade door locks and security at the detention center.
- $655,000 for capital projects at Tabor City. Tabor will also receive $50,000 for treatment of aquatic weeds at Lake Tabor.
- $1.6 million to Columbus County for building renovations and new equipment for the Tabor City Dept. of Aging facility.
- $150,000 to the Museum of Natural Sciences for additional positions and operations.
- $125,000 to Boardman for water and sewer projects.
- $25,000 will go to the Veterans Memorial park of America.
Cerro Gordo, Acme-Delco-Riegelwood, Old Dock, Tabor City, Williams Township, Evergreen and White Marsh fire departments will also receive funds ranging from $3,430 to $90,000.
Some of the funding – such as $1.4 million to Columbus Regional –come from outside sources. In the case of CRHS, the funds are from the national opioid settlement and will be used to “respond to the negative impacts of the opioid epidemic,” the press release said.
Notably absent from the press release was any mentioning of specific funding for the city of Whiteville.
Jones thanked Rabon for his help on the Senate side in passing the budget.
CCN has reached out to officials for more on how the funding will be used.
