[{"_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",6566762,"mediaKeyId","3200591-f78090d0b7b5ca20c0e2ad0d81752796","parentId",3200591,"title","Votes at a glance: Project NewCo incentive, outside-agency funding, loan amendment and contracts approved","audioSeconds",181,"startMs",177000,"endMs",358000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3200591-f78090d0b7b5ca20c0e2ad0d81752796&start=177&end=358","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3200591-f78090d0b7b5ca20c0e2ad0d81752796/thumbnail_177000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6566762/Rutherford-County/North-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Project-NewCo-incentive-outside-agency-funding-loan-amendment-and-contracts-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566762-118fc8c6f8fc51cb5838d38b25bfc72f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442922&Signature=bffrbo2j4Xu5ZZ03Y2DzKc2Ypy7J5Gsk5-EWOAS4KCzQQBBuevtXZWlaCdqIlliZwUyU4cS5UsQyhcQhs3dW5lzdN3cCC2cwJJGVpx7aIFb8uw-DipFVdTZC6LDPCGjpjKIknIhx3jkaMRHKw5v4rkvc8W8aa63lRkfBxhFAnBwbsboly9rCJ2Y-x7iRtqC7QW0ZKr3z-BxmsYItSdsP0-PN2T1JCW-4boL01DAa1Hg8SqCvablvg5UekjhqEl-V9cM3QHG-TE4hdOuslQpx9Om7UAnNQazJB6hP1cDDoSYve7cWMop6D2h1wKsIKcMK4E5UOBf~ITkd2pHyyXic4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rutherford County","date","2025-05-05T00:00:00Z","article","The Rutherford County Board of Commissioners voted on several agenda items, taking the following actions during the meeting.

Project NewCo incentive: After a public hearing the board approved a resolution to offer a local economic-development grant tied to a prospective company referred to as Project NewCo. County staff told commissioners the company — a planned combination of two manufacturers — is projected to create at least 125 jobs and to invest at least $45,000,000 in its first five years if it selects Rutherford County. County staff said the state is expected to offer a performance-based Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) and a $480,000 building reuse grant; the local grant approved by the board equals 50% of the company’s net new real and personal property taxes for the first five years, with a possible five-year extension if agreed thresholds are met. The public hearing recorded no speakers who requested to speak on the matter before the board closed the hearing and approved the resolution.

Outside-agency funding for jail mental-health services: The board approved a funding recommendation for outside agency Partners (presented by Paul Holden, director) to continue mental-health and reentry services at the county detention center. Holden told the board the county contracted Preferred Choice Healthcare to provide in-person jail counseling and reentry services and requested $137,200 for the coming year to support those services. The motion to approve the funding recommendations was seconded and carried.

State cash-flow loan amendment (disaster response): The board adopted a resolution approving an amendment to a state cash-flow loan agreement template intended to address treatment of expedited FEMA reimbursements and avoid triggering an immediate short payback requirement. County Manager Steve Garrison said the General Assembly created a cash-flow loan program under the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024; the amendment adjusts the loan template to account for expedited FEMA funds and avoids a previously required five-day payback term.

Audit contract: The board approved an audit contract with Gould and Gillian CPA Group PA for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025. County staff said the base fee is $79,000 and covers up to three major programs; additional major programs would be billed at $5,000 each.

Proclamations and administrative items: The board approved proclamations recognizing Older Americans Month and National EMS Week, authorized advertising vacancies and accepting applications for Rutherford County boards and commissions with appointments to follow at a future meeting, and approved a consent agenda. The board also approved dates for budget workshops and the public hearing (see separate coverage of budget presentation). The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that passed by voice vote.

Ending: All listed motions were approved as presented in the meeting record. The transcript records voice votes (“all in favor raise your right hand”) rather than a roll-call tally for most items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rutherford County - Board of Commissioners on 2025-05-05 6:00 PM - May 05, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its meeting commissioners approved a local incentive for a prospective manufacturer called Project NewCo, authorized outside-agency funding for jail mental-health services, adopted an amendment template for state cash-flow disaster loans, awarded an audit contract and approved several proclamations and administrative items.","taxTitle","Rutherford County, North Carolina","taxId",45173,"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},6566768,"Rutherford County manager proposes tax increase to fund schools, public safety; community urges full school funding",5196,602000,5798000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3200591-f78090d0b7b5ca20c0e2ad0d81752796&start=602&end=5798","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3200591-f78090d0b7b5ca20c0e2ad0d81752796/thumbnail_602000.jpg","/articles/6566768/Rutherford-County/North-Carolina/Rutherford-County-manager-proposes-tax-increase-to-fund-schools-public-safety-community-urges-full-school-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566768-2a66b04455bdd3c74754249362ced705/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442922&Signature=DFkhPrJZlryaoSiSkZi~1Gnwtw1Uib0x~Sh0m48Vx4TmD29ekNj8BRCjdeLGtuxDMuTK6sHCA1AugxGLihsw8VRtpxSVK336ReAahT5KCpi10ZXoC91u1PYbL8ps1W5oHioqWYEwRi8k8OkceG9RdQJ3GFuU-LYlL2HNpvP5HdRn2qiL0yzQc13OVs3DE~UCocaO6cys5HLVhU6qfCB1Cfl4FKENsfYh-0ec6IkkVGIsDZNPbfKi9lL5Wyu2rdQYrlHyEVvfNd92YWXz2OIKugDbS7bRujg-AH6fRDRtv2Ilh1pEtGFyrlgpOb9xwUUiV-imbGiezn33A7mmP6ggDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Manager Steve Garrison recommended raising Rutherford County’s property tax rate to 56.9 cents per $100 of assessed value to support a proposed fiscal 2025–26 general fund budget of $94,273,625 and increased appropriations for schools and public safety.

Garrison told the Board of Commissioners that the recommended increase — an 11.5¢ rise from the current 45.4¢ rate — is intended to sustain recurring support for education and public safety, cover rising insurance and personnel costs and preserve the county’s fund balance amid hurricane recovery work related to Hurricane Helene. “To be clear, their utilization of our general fund fund balance is not an option,” Garrison said during his presentation.

Garrison outlined specific education funding recommendations: a proposed appropriation of $25,767,592 for the Rutherford County School System, including $20,307,265 for general operations, a $2,020,000 line item intended for teacher supplements and $1,619,017 to fully fund school resource officers (SROs). He also recommended continued support for Isothermal Community College and other partners and described a set of capital projects funded by state appropriations and ARPA dollars.

Why this matters: Garrison said the county faces several fiscal pressures — a nearly 10% increase in the North Carolina health insurance rate, a 9.62% increase to the law-enforcement separation allowance, continued inflation, slowing sales tax growth and the cost of hurricane recovery. He told the board that Rutherford County currently has about $44 million of its general fund balance committed to debris removal and recovery, and the tax office predicts an estimated $36 million loss in taxable property value from the hurricane. Garrison warned that drawing down reserves to cover ongoing, recurring expenses could trigger warnings from the North Carolina Local Government Commission and harm the county’s credit rating.

Public comment: Several speakers used the meeting’s public-comment period to press commissioners to fully fund school requests. Michelle Clement, principal of Rutherford Elementary School, urged the board to approve the full amount the school system requested and said, “Investing in our public schools is the best investment you can make in the future of Rutherford County Schools.” A fifth-grade student, Jonah Robertson, also addressed the board and appealed for support so teachers would not need to use personal funds for classroom supplies.

Budget details and tradeoffs: Garrison said the county received department and partner requests totaling about $107,237,287 and that fully funding all requests would require increasing the tax rate to 69.4¢. He said the recommended package leaves some requests unfunded but would raise education’s share of the county budget and provide a multi-year approach to employee compensation and recruitment, including an example 4% cost-of-living adjustment used in recent planning. He noted that maintaining a robust fund balance is necessary to avoid service disruptions and to provide cash flow for reimbursable FEMA projects.

Capital and operations: The presentation listed county-owned properties and deferred capital needs, and described ongoing and planned projects funded with non-tax revenues (legislative appropriations, ARPA and grants) such as a government services center, an animal control center, a Legacy Soccer Complex and other renovations. Garrison said none of those projects currently rely on new county debt service supported by local taxes.

Follow-up: The board approved dates for budget workshops and the public hearing: workshops on May 13 and May 20, a public hearing June 2 at 6 p.m. and a budget adoption on June 5. Garrison said the recommended budget is his proposal and that he would work with the board on revisions prior to adoption.

Ending: The meeting record shows the budget presentation will move to workshop and public hearing steps; commissioners will consider revisions and vote on a final budget at the scheduled June adoption meeting.

","County Manager Steve Garrison presented a FY 2025–26 budget proposal that would raise the property tax rate from 45.4¢ to 56.9¢ per $100 of assessed value to increase support for education, public safety and employee wages. Members of the public urged commissioners to fully fund the school system’s requests.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Project NewCo incentive, outside-agency funding, loan amendment and contracts approved

Rutherford County manager proposes tax increase to fund schools, public safety; community urges full school funding