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Decatur County commissioners approve $2 million short-term backing for READY project
Summary
The Decatur County commissioners voted to amend the county''s capital plan to make $2 million available as a temporary loan to keep the READY construction moving until state disbursements arrive.
Decatur County commissioners voted May 19 to amend the county''s capital plan to make up to $2 million available as temporary county funding for the READY economic development project.
The amendment adds $2 million to the county''s RHEIG/READY allocation so construction can continue without pauses if state READY disbursements are delayed. The commissioners said the county would seek reimbursement from READY once the state funds are released.
The change supplements an existing local commitment. County staff said the county is already obligated for $1.2 million on the RHEIG portion of the project and that the additional $2 million is intended only as short-term cash flow, not a permanent increase in county spending.
Commissioners and staff said they received new information the week of May 12 indicating READY funds could begin to be released sooner than previously expected, but they still approved the amendment to avoid construction slowdowns if the state schedule slips.
"The intent is not to keep $2,000,000 there," one commissioner said during debate, "it is to make sure that this project proceeds forward, and then when we get money READY, we pay ourselves back." (Paraphrased from commissioner discussion.)
County legal counsel reviewed the amendment before the vote. Commissioners approved the amended capital plan in a roll-call motion and said staff will monitor READY disbursements and return for bookkeeping entries as needed.
Background: READY (the state's redevelopment/disbursement program discussed by county staff) is intended to fund economic projects in staged disbursements. County officials said proceeding without a funding gap avoids the higher costs and scheduling disruptions that occur if a general contractor must stop and later restart work.
The commission directed staff to continue coordination with state READY liaisons and the county''s project manager so the county can be reimbursed promptly when state funds arrive.
Ending: The amendment passed unanimously; commissioners said they would bring future appropriation and reimbursement requests back to the board for official accounting and transparency.
