Forsyth County commissioners on Sept. 25 debated and then approved an amendment to the county capital projects ordinance to appropriate $1,767,624.60 in bond premium from the sale of general obligation bonds. The board ultimately separated the originally combined action into two votes; amendment A passed 6‑1 and amendment B passed unanimously.

Staff explained that $2,121,992.95 in bond premium was received, issuance costs totaled $354,368.35, leaving $1,767,624.60 available for allocation. The recommended allocations were 65% to the county ($1,148,955.99), 30% to the schools ($530,287.38) and 5% to Forsyth Tech ($88,301.23). Deputy county staff explained that because issuance costs were assigned pro rata across the bond purposes and the Ashley Reserve represented a large portion of the bond proceeds, the final dollar increases shifted more premium dollars to the school Ashley Reserve than originally expected.

Commissioner Woodbury said she supported more premium going to schools relative to the county because she understood some county maintenance had been deferred in prior years; she voted against amendment A when the board split the measures. Chair and other commissioners noted the board had previously adopted the percentage distribution in May and that the final allocation reflected lower issuance costs that produced a larger net premium to allocate.

Finance staff clarified the net increase and confirmed an additional $530,287.38 would go to the Ashley Reserve, bringing that project’s premium allocation to $530,287.38 in this round. Following the discussion, the board voted separately on the two parts: amendment A carried 6‑1 (Woodbury opposed) and amendment B carried unanimously.