Burke County previews $400,000 request to support sewer lift station for 140‑home Valdese development

Burke County staff on April 6 previewed an interlocal development agreement with the town of Valdese that would use part of a state‑allocated housing inducement fund to support local infrastructure for a proposed housing development.

County Manager told commissioners the General Assembly allocated about $3.2 million to Burke County for a housing inducement fund, which the county plans to leverage by providing municipal grants where housing development is active. He said the town of Valdese has a plat for roughly 140 home sites and has secured grants but is asking the county to contribute about $400,000 toward a sewer lift station to enable the project.

Manager described a performance contract that would be attached to county funds. "That performance contract will require repayment of public funds including the county's advancement to the town if vertical development and tax‑base housing isn't created," he said, adding staff and the county attorney are still working through technical revisions.

The board did not take final action; the manager said he will deliver a fuller presentation and additional contract detail at the next work session in two weeks. Commissioners asked clarifying questions but did not vote on the request at the pre‑agenda meeting.

If advanced later, the proposal would be structured as a municipal grant and tied to a performance repayment agreement; staff said repayment terms will apply if development does not proceed to vertical construction and tax‑base generation.