[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6246253,"mediaKeyId","3218718-871c04e52a2be42948f5dd7d716a2f6c","parentId",3218718,"title","County utilities outline multi‑year wastewater and water capital plan; system development fee changes explained","audioSeconds",1901,"startMs",12199000,"endMs",14100000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3218718-871c04e52a2be42948f5dd7d716a2f6c&start=12199&end=14100","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3218718-871c04e52a2be42948f5dd7d716a2f6c/thumbnail_12199000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6246253/Brunswick-County/North-Carolina/County-utilities-outline-multiyear-wastewater-and-water-capital-plan-system-development-fee-changes-explained","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6246253-95c988311317468ed59398047a0a9b3a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496029&Signature=Ij6GuB~rXqmvmZ3izozaclfNK2UxxKE4jRCBJqm6ppjhhwRXqLytDIRnMFGoMfnuASaE-Lz3okBLbVu8rViZ4Pd-LE1QN948Ii8wjsCe6jWVm5Jf8thcGm60UrB6m55317vH7G8x2G3KVE5T2z8IN1m-jWVxcwHMiYQoi-tgS5cbFn8dYnw-FddTCf6BOqUj4IilH5kiKVeC4maqHmMugdauyknXk96KamAOWI8sXTh7QYKmb-v11Ari6Iu8choFM~gCrNnRx9zw9ObB9FeQ8OamsLSwWen00elLYNQopyawdihHtMOngJ7M6ACsHlj7-VKd67bdJiZH9NhJsWZ-pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Brunswick County, NC","date","2025-05-08T00:05:56.327Z","article","County utilities staff presented the preliminary enterprise fund budget and a multi‑year capital improvement plan that lays out major water and wastewater projects and associated funding sources.

Staff said projected water revenues and customer growth are being conservatively budgeted, and recommended personnel and equipment additions for both water and wastewater operations. On capital, planned projects across two fiscal years include transmission mains, regional plant expansions, Bell Swamp pump‑station rehabilitation (staff said that pump station dates to the 1980s and requires significant rehabilitation), northwest and southeast transmission improvements, and a proposed biosolids processing facility. The wastewater CIP includes several projects with multi‑million‑dollar price tags; staff estimated hundreds of millions in combined projects over the next two to three years and noted that these capital needs drive the longer‑term funding outlook.

Staff reviewed proposed changes to system development fees (SDFs) and transmission recovery fees, explaining statutory constraints: state rules limit SDF recovery to a maximum of 75% of eligible project cost, and the county has phased prior increases with an additional step to reach what staff described as 90% of the calculated maximum (leaving a small margin for refunds if overcollection occurs). Staff recommended a rate study be completed in coordination with project cost confirmations so any rate adjustments can be sequenced with final project scopes and debt proceeds.

Commissioners asked for additional detail on how SDFs and pay‑go transfers interact with pay‑as‑you‑go capital and developer contributions; they also discussed whether to accelerate or delay additional SDF phases. Staff reminded the board that a proposed SDF policy change is a policy decision for the board and that a formal rate study would provide the technical basis for any changes. No fee ordinance or rate change was adopted at the meeting; staff were asked to return with refined schedule and updated project cost figures.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Brunswick County Board of Commissioners Special & Regular Meetings | May 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Utilities staff presented an enterprise fund budget and a multi‑year water/wastewater CIP that includes large transmission mains, pump‑station rehabilitation and a regional biosolids facility; staff also outlined proposed SDF adjustments tied to statutory limits.","taxTitle","Brunswick County, North Carolina","taxId",53179,"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},6246258,"Sheriff seeks overhaul of digital evidence storage as cheaper offer emerges; command‑bus funding still undecided",1577,8928000,10505000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3218718-871c04e52a2be42948f5dd7d716a2f6c&start=8928&end=10505","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3218718-871c04e52a2be42948f5dd7d716a2f6c/thumbnail_8928000.jpg","/articles/6246258/Brunswick-County/North-Carolina/Sheriff-seeks-overhaul-of-digital-evidence-storage-as-cheaper-offer-emerges-commandbus-funding-still-undecided","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6246258-473862be13ac405992e27eb64e2dec1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496029&Signature=JgMw-U7awo9n4oy6schmojNY7iptuQBYhz5zVhBM5SqbLsWv-5FgMyX1RELXo~~QfOo23KylIl7UbVEKyANhz5GkeX~-smDe1tlitqCTvGtZPafdqxRf4OnzbktESpXzG-U6apBrU0O9SCk-RgfqADoAgdba8s-C3HunHMx3SxMCTow5THIu6HhF4ixSDX2yj7DQ-gJAUHgAESgtMgkIHdbSdbQHa2PE8QLjRgruPTJ3zdFdPAs3VxLLi8Ifc8sX9lIC8Fqxv8sSIL7P4fGNb9pZTOp67a-NAnYzveMwZUhpxCV8DJLzX4C4y1~L9lnpdws8pGYdAChzSBR5U~pXzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The sheriff and county IT staff briefed commissioners on a planned overhaul of body‑worn cameras, in‑car cameras and digital evidence storage.

IT staff told the board they had originally budgeted for an Axon‑based solution that would cost roughly $800,000 per year. Motorola has since presented an alternative that staff said may offer comparable functionality at lower cost; preliminary conversations suggested a potential reduction to approximately $500,000 per year and a sales‑cycle discount amounting to roughly $1.2 million over five years, but the county had not completed a full technical and operational vetting. Staff emphasized they will not recommend a vendor without demos and a technical validation of requirements.

The sheriff also described a previously earmarked $1.2 million ARP item for a mobile command bus that he had not pursued last year when budget cuts forced prioritization; he asked staff to obtain new quotes, noting an earlier estimate he had received was about $1.5 million and that prices could change. Commissioners discussed the tradeoff between using ARP funds set aside for the command bus and reallocating some of that money to support the digital evidence project or other high‑priority items. Several commissioners urged rapid follow‑up so the board could decide whether to reallocate ARP funds or hold them for the command vehicle.

No procurement award or reallocation decision was made at the meeting. Staff were asked to obtain firm Motorola pricing, technical demos, and updated quotes for the command bus and to return with firm cost/benefit comparisons so the board could decide whether to use the ARP set‑aside or other funds.","The sheriff and county IT staff briefed the board on replacing body cameras, in‑car cameras and digital evidence storage; a Motorola proposal may lower projected costs but requires technical vetting; a $1.2 million ARP set‑aside for a command bus remains under discussion.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6246263,"Boiling Spring Lakes wildfire grows to about 1,369 acres; incident 10% contained, forestry says",710,9970000,10680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3218718-871c04e52a2be42948f5dd7d716a2f6c&start=9970&end=10680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3218718-871c04e52a2be42948f5dd7d716a2f6c/thumbnail_9970000.jpg","/articles/6246263/Brunswick-County/North-Carolina/Boiling-Spring-Lakes-wildfire-grows-to-about-1369-acres-incident-10-contained-forestry-says","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6246263-21fc375a3feec80f59f2af170276b7a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496029&Signature=VPjF2jAAZwD5l3OyW28oFEwLoh8QVrwVbK8QaBhP5ypleGD2X5TAVx-XRKGdU8Vj0AzkQ0exmaGFqDirYfV-gl9uIIRnYrZKx94xDlkBH1EUdnOk6OQe9RIJtKn1RhDwAvwTiwuy1VPPXB7V7SFAnwckyYGV2aTnNpTnoULGvJ8cXPEPxKoe1WUbjJoPsWBVEldEvb3Vpcn4MmNI7g~h75TL0n10i7Bd2io2YFoxe~fyS~RACrCPc0Se4tKXo0hqUgUvVyAcU1Paf~B22uZ6LeTviubgX6K6kZszLII8rCnH7vCTX4cAfuW-DuSVPv6~gPnvp2yIAHSa8hCjsLb4tQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brunswick County officials received a field update from North Carolina Forest Service staff on a large wildfire that began near Boiling Spring Lakes over the prior weekend.

Allen Matthews, Cape Fear area ranger for the North Carolina Forest Service, told the board the incident had burned roughly 1,369 acres and was about 10% contained at the time of the briefing. A 73‑person incident management team had been assigned to the fire; county and mutual‑aid resources from multiple neighboring counties supported suppression efforts.

Staff and commissioners praised the rapid multiagency response and credited a rain event (staff measured about 0.6 inches at the scene) with helping firefighters gain containment and enabling crews to move in to secure lines on Sunday. Forestry officials cautioned that areas with deep organic soils can smolder underground for weeks or months, raising the risk of rekindle events during dry, windy periods. Crews reported localized flareups that could be extinguished quickly but recommended continued monitoring.

Commissioners asked for improved incident communications to the board and to share official email updates; Forestry staff offered to pass public information office notices to county leadership. The board did not take formal action; members directed staff to include after‑action followup and encouraged county emergency management and forestry to work on lessons learned and public outreach about wildfire risk and preparedness.","State forestry briefed the commissioners on a fast‑moving wildfire near Boiling Spring Lakes that began Friday; about 1,369 acres were affected, the incident was 10% contained with a 73‑person incident management team, and crews warned of long‑running smoldering in deep organic soils.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6246268,"County budget debate centers on half‑penny tax proposal, ARP reallocation and parks maintenance",13861,321000,14182000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3218718-871c04e52a2be42948f5dd7d716a2f6c&start=321&end=14182","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3218718-871c04e52a2be42948f5dd7d716a2f6c/thumbnail_321000.jpg","/articles/6246268/Brunswick-County/North-Carolina/County-budget-debate-centers-on-halfpenny-tax-proposal-ARP-reallocation-and-parks-maintenance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6246268-5311ece516ac8ce5c18ebadd97e04df7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496029&Signature=fRMXlc1frnjKaZHDdKEm13NDKBki6uC2mrt7NciolOYEFoubGjajeKtJsHiENJnBrV0D0ViH0y2wIRdRDpIhkBS1R8YNN0V8-FMlBjdds3dCmilR0lzX2sjNVcMwIXGDHpXCjXVUE-H00js8FpzjDU7bwQFBvdCVRGu8WLgNnHprlUirj-uw1pD~-NtM~oBxv2Ti0rDYQrgxu0Z6t8be4Jrneu-yvR43F1BfMSZTFW21Iq7STW956rEr2FqxiIvo41-fpLG7BAWuRvmL3yYKEZEl-QOP6RM4HpPsefNuZ2T~rNTqLXIuvZKcL4Rb3gNvwuo48qV~JurVnsWVRPQYrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commissioners and county staff opened an extended review of the recommended general fund budget and a set of high‑priority add‑backs that together could raise the tax rate by roughly a half‑penny.

The discussion focused on recurring operating requests—most prominently additional recurring maintenance money for Parks and Recreation—and whether one‑time ARP/COVID funds should be reallocated to avoid a tax increase. County staff presented figures showing the manager’s recommended budget is balanced at the current 0.342 rate but that the five “plus” items under consideration would add about 0.0052 in the rate (roughly a half‑penny); an EMS billing change would add a further 0.0012 if chosen instead of other offsets.

Commissioners debated tradeoffs. Supporters of a modest tax increase said the average homeowner would pay about $20 a year for the additional revenues and warned that repeated deferrals of maintenance risk larger costs later. Opponents urged using unspent ARP/COVID appropriations and fund balance for nonrecurring needs rather than raising ongoing revenue to cover recurring costs.

Staff emphasized some requests are recurring operating increases that can’t repeatedly be covered with one‑time funds without creating future budget gaps. Parks and Recreation staff outlined a manager‑recommended increase of about $88,000 for ground maintenance this year and an additional proposal to fund an extra $200,000 recurring maintenance program (equipment-as‑a‑service, field sprayers with GPS, trailers, recurring chemicals and small tools) that would bring recurring grounds maintenance to about $288,000 annually if approved.

Commissioners also questioned several individual requests, including two additional library assistant positions (totaling roughly $114,000) that some commissioners proposed reallocating to Parks and Recreation instead. Staff said the recommended merit/cola package totals roughly $2.8 million in the general fund (a 3.3% CPI adjustment plus a 2.75% merit pool, together a possible maximum of about 6.75% for an individual), and commissioners discussed modest adjustments to that package as another source of savings.

A parallel line of debate reviewed ARP/COVID‑era balances and previously earmarked projects. Staff summarized ARP‑enabled unobligated balances and subawards: about $3.2 million in undesignated ARP‑enabled dollars, a recently proposed $600,000 EMS radio replacement request at the meeting, and additional ARP line items including air purification ($640,500), cybersecurity/audio‑visual leftover ($28,009), personal protective equipment ($50,000), administrative/reporting ($64,003), a proposed mobile medical outreach unit ($500,000), portable shelters ($300,000), a $1.2 million mobile command vehicle (sheriff), and $250,000 for a community improvement program. Staff presented scenarios reallocating some of those one‑time items to cover recurring needs while warning that using one‑time funds for ongoing costs would reduce the county’s ability to absorb future revenue shocks.

No final budget adoption or tax rate vote occurred at the meeting. Commissioners directed staff to return with more detailed options: (1) a plan that uses ARP/one‑time funds and fund balance to avoid a tax increase and (2) a revised recommended budget showing the manager’s original proposal plus the high‑priority add‑backs and their fiscal impacts.","Brunswick County commissioners spent most of a meeting weighing a proposed half‑penny property tax rate increase and alternatives including reallocating ARP/COVID funds to cover recurring parks, EMS and public‑safety items; no final tax vote was taken.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County utilities outline multi‑year wastewater and water capital plan; system development fee changes explained

Sheriff seeks overhaul of digital evidence storage as cheaper offer emerges; command‑bus funding still undecided

Boiling Spring Lakes wildfire grows to about 1,369 acres; incident 10% contained, forestry says

County budget debate centers on half‑penny tax proposal, ARP reallocation and parks maintenance