[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6628453,"mediaKeyId","2716619-10eb81725483fd5013929e271bcb2653","parentId",2716619,"title","Pender County Utilities proposes staffing changes, meter upgrades and tap incentive as grants and cash fund next-year projects","audioSeconds",2748,"startMs",7857000,"endMs",10605000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2716619-10eb81725483fd5013929e271bcb2653&start=7857&end=10605","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2716619-10eb81725483fd5013929e271bcb2653/thumbnail_7857000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6628453/Pender-County/North-Carolina/Pender-County-Utilities-proposes-staffing-changes-meter-upgrades-and-tap-incentive-as-grants-and-cash-fund-next-year-projects","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628453-83877558bc55b17cc13f290f9b848a54/orig.mp4?Expires=1774898231&Signature=OrGhatiieQZMT1s1Kcqk8S3zQ-KXnebXeQyF2-7I-R0FIxHXSSPKKOeHTopSvfYZ~~JPYtkQyQqPDi87xHNgNyiDah5DrZYR2TlxTLOoB7WUnctjaoi9L99h9QlUSu6HxZA7bx9lrILEPRdER4ziJdlccR1YKYs90Ig9fbxSaRUogEnVtoVA3VVmGyXs~oG-397TsjhMBxOKdctAa2t57EWW6vX68X87wlKtx37c7dg7uAERGWa823AmU7CxY77xz5eZezPhtuMsQq3R-NG-xNcImxEgd1sHioJ0sapC0j2yCjXBSxuKHZyBsi1axXBKnuxdKTlaHBVcW41FyFRw8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pender County","date","2025-03-20T22:47:13.517Z","article","Anthony Colon, Pender County utilities executive director, told the board at the retreat that the county\u0000s water and sewer enterprise holds roughly $68,000,000 in outstanding debt and reported about $12.04 million in total utility revenues in the most recent audited year.

Colon said operating revenue available for debt service in fiscal 2024 was about $5.9 million and that debt service that year was about $4.1 million, producing roughly a 1.43 debt-service coverage ratio. He and Davenport\u0000s analysis showed the utilities have tightened cash positions because of heavy capital spending but expect reserves to rebound as reimbursements and new connections materialize.

The utilities presentation outlined ongoing and planned projects for fiscal 2025\u000029 and 2026: a Maple Hill automatic meter infrastructure (AMI) replacement (meters, setters, boxes), a C. S. Hill elevated tank and well work, completion of a 421 corridor sewer/water extension (partly ARPA- and grant-funded), flood-control work at the Maple Hill wastewater plant and a distribution/collections facility on county-owned land. Colon said about $13 million of the FY26 $14.6 million CIP is grant-funded (ARPA or similar principal-forgiveness programs) and that other lines include USDA loans already on the books.

Colon described a multi-pronged operational plan: reorganize staffing (reclassifying and adding positions, including a chief treatment officer, a senior utilities inspector, an operations coordinator and a centralized maintenance group), complete the AMI rollout in-house, and reduce contract services by transferring maintenance work to county staff. \"We\u0000re creating a centralized maintenance unit so we can start doing maintenance in house,\" Colon said.

On rates and fees, Colon said the utility system last year standardized residential base rates and charges by meter size and raised rates in a prior action. For the coming year he proposed raising the availability (base) fee for larger commercial meters (1.5-inch to 8-inch) to align with nearby utilities and cover the higher equipment and service costs for large service connections; residential base rates would not increase in the near-term under the proposal. He described planned meter purchases and installations and said some recent meters installed by developers required replacement.

To encourage service expansion, Colon proposed a time-limited tap-in incentive: a short-term program (e.g., a 90-day period to be proposed to the board) to offer roughly a 50% discount on tap costs for existing residences with a county water line in front of the property. \"If you have a well and there\u0000s a water line in front of your house, this is only for residentials: we\u0000re gonna be 50% for 90 days,\" Colon said, adding that billing staff would develop the program details for board approval.

Colon also told commissioners the utility is exploring a New Hanover County interconnection for emergency supply to reduce regional vulnerability and is evaluating the payoff of certain USDA loans if property sales free cash for debt reduction. He said the next steps include formal board action on any rate or fee changes, finalizing the AMI rollout plan and returning with the tap-in program language for approval.

The utility presentation emphasized two practical constraints: workforce retention and the timing of capital reimbursements. Colon said the department has struggled to retain certified operators against neighboring jurisdictions\u0000 pay, prompting requested reclassifications and modest pay adjustments to reduce turnover. He urged that getting personnel and finances stable this year would let the county accelerate line extensions and prioritized connections in subsequent years.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOCC Board Retreat Day 1, 3-20-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Anthony Colon, Pender County utilities executive director, told the board at the retreat that the county\u0000s water and sewer enterprise holds roughly $68 million in outstanding debt and reported about $12.04 million in total utility revenues in the most recent audited year.","taxTitle","Pender County, North Carolina","taxId",75713,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6628458,"Pender County finance chief, bond advisors outline debt plan as board weighs library, school and courthouse options",3662,886000,4548000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2716619-10eb81725483fd5013929e271bcb2653&start=886&end=4548","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2716619-10eb81725483fd5013929e271bcb2653/thumbnail_886000.jpg","/articles/6628458/Pender-County/North-Carolina/Pender-County-finance-chief-bond-advisors-outline-debt-plan-as-board-weighs-library-school-and-courthouse-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6628458-de9621cfc4f430c6b7c56fc8b674f59a/orig.mp4?Expires=1774898231&Signature=cWS7o1hjylSmdrhFoUlJ1WIrDPdriO5hWhlaj07RKR~djPocWEHOdbwNpfMarrAViPmAB1wB5l34NXU7avbYZ2H9fGJbQctO7Gl~vgsPStxGG8AIOXSPfZFr8cHcetPfoROWTHHYPYwCSqJbWgBGciD07j~ONl6SIlylEQ1u7o3MqyhsBmKjrYN5b1PUh8mpI4aiKWN95rVT8WRU1W0tHLfsuNoVzp4pmE7UNv5FDxU16JW1qRQJMtgPDzF8lzePpVihyS-LbuLdiwmKQwfasrV4G8vFTF7LI7dBXXv6prYO1WeOZeh3zMXeEJXzqmfGUWT-ZO5wEVAPuzwtgtPeFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Meg Blue, Pender County finance director, told commissioners at the county\u0000s retreat that the county\u0000s combined general funds total about $128,000,000, other governmental funds about $44.5 million and utility funds about $26.6 million as the board begins the budget cycle.

The numbers matter because recent borrowing for the health and human services building, a law enforcement center and school projects has pushed several debt ratios above the county\u0000s policy thresholds even while the county maintains well-above-policy reserves. \"Your unassigned fund balance as a percent of expenditures in fiscal 2024 was almost 60%,\" Ted Cole of Davenport Public Finance said, citing audit figures and Moody\u0000s-style comparatives.

At issue for the board: (1) whether to issue the remaining roughly $34 million in voter-authorized general obligation (GO) school bonds in fiscal 2027\u000028\u000028and 2028), (2) how much of the county\u0000s excess reserves to spend for capital (including a possible $15 million toward a new library) and (3) whether to proceed with a proposed $58 million courthouse and, if so, how to pay for it.

Cole said Pender County\u0000s total tax-supported debt outstanding is roughly $300 million and that the county\u0000s 10-year payout measure is about 53%, meaning roughly half of outstanding principal will be repaid under current schedules in the next decade. He noted the county holds ratings from Moody\u0000s (AA2) and Standard & Poor\u0000s (AA). \"The rating looks at economy, financial performance, institutional framework and leverage,\" Cole said, explaining the agencies\u0000 four-part approach.

The presenters walked commissioners through three planning cases. A base case showing only the remaining $34 million in school GO bonds is covered by currently budgeted revenues and planned uses of a debt-service reserve. A second case that also fully debt-finances a $58 million courthouse would create a multi-million-dollar structural shortfall beginning around fiscal 2029. Davenport\u0000s model estimates the shortfall as roughly $6.5 million a year in that scenario\u0000the equivalent of roughly 6 to 7 pennies of tax rate revenue under current valuation assumptions. A third scenario assumed dedicating an additional $15 million of cash to the courthouse; that would reduce but not eliminate the shortfall.

Blue flagged several mechanics the public and new board members asked about: how the county\u0000s tax-rate \"pennies\" are allocated (for example, a 9.25¢ EMS tax and a 7.81¢ county debt-related levy), how non-tax revenues such as sales tax and lottery funds are applied, and that the county\u0000s fund-balance policy sets a minimum unassigned balance equal to 20% of general fund expenditures but also permits appropriation of excess for one-time capital uses. \"Anything in excess of 20% may be appropriated for pay-as-you-go capital or other one-time uses,\" Blue said.

Commissioner Groves asked whether the board had already approved spending $15 million on a library; staff clarified that architectural and engineering (A&E) work of about $1.5 million has been authorized, but the full appropriation for construction would come back to the board for approval. \"The full $15 was not yet approved,\" Blue said.

Cole and Blue emphasized that decisions remain with the board: the remaining school GO authorization has been planned for but not issued, the library construction appropriation would require a separate board action, and the courthouse would require policy choices about issuing new debt or using reserves. Both presenters recommended revisiting the model as budgets and valuations update and noted that the county could seek alternatives (phased projects, partial cash contributions, or changes to the tax-rate allocations) to reduce future revenue requirements.

For now, the retreat left three clear next steps for the board: confirm whether to issue the remaining school GO bonds, decide whether to appropriate reserve cash (and how much) for library or courthouse work, and direct staff to return with updated budget-year projections and an issuance plan if the board wishes to consider debt for the courthouse.","Meg Blue, Pender County finance director, told commissioners at the county retreat that the county\u0000s combined general funds total about $128,000,000, other governmental funds about $44.5 million and utility funds about $26.6 million as the board begins the budget cycle.","actionData","errors"]

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Pender County Utilities proposes staffing changes, meter upgrades and tap incentive as grants and cash fund next-year projects

Pender County finance chief, bond advisors outline debt plan as board weighs library, school and courthouse options