Board accepts $2.65 million offer for Hall of Justice property; uses of proceeds limited without state authority

Forsyth County commissioners voted to accept the last and highest negotiated offer for the Hall of Justice property and authorize its sale to MedSolutions Compounding Pharmacy Inc. for $2,650,000; the buyer placed a 5% deposit with the clerk to the board.

During discussion, Commissioner Bessie and others raised the possibility of using proceeds to expand county affordable‑housing efforts such as home repair or first‑time‑buyer programs. County legal counsel cautioned that the county does not presently have broad authority to repurpose general county funds for certain housing programs and that, in many cases, authorization from the North Carolina General Assembly — potentially via referendum language — would be required to change allowable uses.

A commissioner said the board would ask the county attorney to research what authorization would be necessary to use proceeds for affordable housing and return with options; the vote to accept the MedSolutions offer passed by a 6–1 margin.

Board members also noted they would review the due‑diligence period closely given the property’s history and public interest. No amendment to the motion was made to dedicate proceeds to housing as part of the sale approval.