Union County adopts bond ordinance repurposing $14.1 million in capital funds

The Board of County Commissioners of the County of Union adopted Ordinance number 860-2025 on final reading to reallocate previously authorized capital funds totaling $14,116,985.

County Manager Oatman told the board the ordinance “does not add anything to the county debt,” and that the ordinance repurposes capital funds from projects deemed complete or from projects that now have lower priority. He cited examples of projects affected, including the Oak Ridge Sports Complex and a stable manure area, and said the repurposed funds will be used for park improvements, technology, equipment and drainage work.

During the public hearing Bruce Patterson of Garwood questioned the reduction in public comment time from five minutes to three and asked for clarity on how the ordinance aggregates unspent balances from 11 prior bond ordinances, including a reference to bond ordinance 845-2023. Patterson asked what becomes of previously authorized amounts, including an example figure he said was $46,000,000 tied to a prior ordinance. The county manager responded with the $14,116,985 repurposing figure and said the ordinance is a cleanup and repurposing of capital authorizations dating back as far as February 2012.

The ordinance was moved for final reading by Commissioner Williams and seconded by Commissioner Baker. The clerk called the roll and recorded seven votes in the affirmative. The meeting record shows the motion carried with seven ayes.

The ordinance text read into the record lists the prior ordinances being amended, including multiple bond ordinance numbers adopted between 2012 and 2024. The county did not state in the hearing that the ordinance changes the county—s total bonded indebtedness; rather, the county manager characterized the action as repurposing existing capital authorizations.