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Commissioners hold public hearing, approve Novant Health bond issuance; commissioner recuses
Summary
At a public hearing April 21, the commission heard bond counsel for Novant Health and approved a resolution permitting tax-exempt private-activity bonds for improvements at Brunswick Medical Center; one commissioner recused from the vote.
The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners opened a public hearing on April 21 on a request related to proposed tax-exempt bond financing for projects at Brunswick Medical Center and then approved a resolution allowing the bond process to proceed.
Charles Boyer, representing the National Finance Authority and serving as bond counsel, told the board the request was a procedural step to satisfy federal tax rules under what he identified as "section 147(f)," and that the bonds would not create county debt or an obligation to repay. "These are procedural tax approvals," Boyer said, and he described the hearing as the local venue for public comment on projects that span multiple counties.
Commissioners opened and closed the hearing with no public speakers registered. Commissioner discussion included an announced recusal: a motion was made to recuse Commissioner Forte from the vote because of his position on a hospital board; the board approved the recusal. After the public hearing closed, the board voted to approve the requested resolution authorizing the county's portion of the public hearing record and the procedural action.
Why it matters: the bonds, as described by counsel, would be privately issued and tax-exempt under federal rules; county staff and counsel confirmed the county would not assume repayment liability. Commissioners noted potential conflicts and recused one member prior to the vote.
The public record for this item will include the county minutes and the resolution filed with the county clerk; bond counsel provided a copy of the resolution to staff during the hearing.
