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Board approves $3.71 million in state recovery funds to repair schools damaged by Hurricane Helene
Summary
The county approved a project ordinance to accept $3,713,067 from the Hurricane Helene Capital Recovery Fund to repair Haywood County school facilities; insurance and FEMA reimbursements must be returned to the recovery fund as they are received.
The Haywood County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Feb. 17 to adopt a project ordinance that appropriates $3,713,067 from the Hurricane Helene Capital Recovery Fund to repair public school facilities damaged in the storm.
Christian Owen, Haywood County finance director, described the ordinance as funding “all the repairs to the school facilities that were approved by the newly established Hurricane Helene Recovery Fund,” and noted that any insurance or federal reimbursements must be returned to that fund after they are received.
Graham Haines, assistant superintendent for Haywood County Schools, attended the meeting as the schools seek to complete repairs without pulling local capital. Owen and others said the appropriation stems from the Disaster Recovery Act of 2024 (Senate Bill 743), which included a $50 million allocation for school repairs in federally designated disaster areas. Owen thanked local legislators for enabling upfront access to these funds to avoid long delays while awaiting insurance and FEMA payments.
Why it matters: The appropriation allows school repairs to proceed immediately rather than waiting for reimbursement, which county and school officials said will reduce cash-flow pressure on local budgets and speed rebuilding of damaged facilities.
The board moved and approved the project ordinance during the regular agenda; the motion passed without recorded opposition.
Ending: County staff said the schools’ repairs are subject to later reconciliation with insurance and FEMA; the board’s action authorizes the county to accept and expend the recovery funds so work can proceed.
