Harnett County commissioners approve financing and resolution to build Flatwoods Middle School

Harnett County commissioners voted to approve entering into an installment financing contract and adopted a resolution authorizing debt issuance to fund construction of Flatwoods Middle School.

The action followed a public hearing at which residents and county staff discussed the need for new school capacity and existing facility conditions. Miss Honeycutt, the county’s finance officer, told commissioners, “what you have before you is the actual resolution,” describing it as the set of financing documents that will allow the county to issue debt and begin the project.

During public comment, a resident said temporary classroom units behind some schools lacked basic facilities and urged the county to improve existing buildings as well as build new ones. Another commenter praised the board’s effort and suggested the county examine Rockingham County’s long‑range capital planning as a model. Sarah Lee, a local advocate, noted the county already maintains a capital improvement plan that looks out seven years.

Commissioners made the motion to enter the financing contract by voice vote; the motion passed and the commission subsequently approved the written resolution authorizing execution of the installment financing contract and related documents. The resolution gives county staff and the finance officer authority to finalize financing agreements and proceed with the Flatwoods project.

The resolution and financing documents were described in general terms at the meeting; the exact principal amount to be issued was not specified during the staff presentation at the hearing. A resident during an earlier public hearing referenced a not‑to‑exceed figure, but the clerk clarified that that figure referred to a different hearing item. Commissioners did not state a specific bond or loan amount on the record during the votes reported in the transcript.

The board was told that the Harnett County Board of Education had approved its related documents prior to the county vote. Staff indicated the next steps are to finalize the financing documents, issue the debt, and begin project procurement and construction work.

No motions to delay or table the item were recorded in the transcript; the board approved the financing motion and the resolution in succession and closed the public hearing afterward.