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Harrisburg council approves extension request for 2017 transportation GO bond authorization
Summary
The Town of Harrisburg voted to approve staff’s request to seek an extension from the Local Government Commission to issue remaining 2017 transportation general‑obligation bond proceeds for identified projects, after staff cited easement delays and CDOT coordination problems. The LGC will consider the town’s application on Sept. 10.
The Town of Harrisburg council voted to approve a staff request to seek an extension of the 2017 transportation general‑obligation bond authorization so the town can issue the remaining bond proceeds for identified projects.
Staff told the council that voters originally authorized the bonds on Nov. 7, 2017. The town issued $1,650,000 in 2021 and has $2,350,000 remaining tied to projects that include sidewalks on Stallingford, Stallingford Phase 1 entrance improvements, Financial Way construction, River Road improvements, Cambridge Drive construction and the Davis Creek Greenway crossing. Staff said those projects are either in design or ready for construction but have been delayed by easement acquisition and coordination with the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
At the meeting staff explained that, with council approval, the town would ask the Local Government Commission (LGC) to consider the extension request at its Sept. 10 meeting; if the LGC approves and no legal action is filed during the required 30‑day advertisement period, the extension order would automatically take effect and give the town up to an additional three years to issue the remaining bonds. Staff said they expect to use only a portion of that period in practice.
Council members asked whether the LGC process was routine and what would happen if the extension were not granted. Staff replied that the fast‑track treatment on the LGC agenda is not typical but that town staff worked with the commission and felt confident about approval. They also outlined alternatives if the extension were denied: scrap the current projects, pursue regular installment financing, or proceed with an alternative financing plan.
The public hearing closed with no public speakers, and the council moved to adopt the extension request. The chair called the vote and stated five members were in favor. The council did not record an itemized roll call in the transcript.
Next steps: the town will submit the extension application to the LGC for its Sept. 10 meeting and, if approved, will advertise the extension order for 30 days before it becomes effective when no legal challenge is filed.
