Mr. Spruill, Please distribute to commissioners | Eastern North Carolina Now

   Publisher's Note: I publish everything Warren sends me. Why? He makes sense, even if you don't agree with every bit of it. That is what public discourse is all about.

    The Economic Development Commission's budget and the Industrial Parks have combined to remove $8,494,000 from the available cash balances of Beaufort County government since 2002.

    EDC Budget 2002/2010: $2,826,000 County Cash and Loans in Industrial Parks: $5,668,000

    The following data are drawn from the Economic Development Commission Report (12/10) and the Beaufort County Manager's Office for the period 2002 through 2010. The Economic Development Commission originated and distributed funds to local businesses from both Federal and State Grants and City County Incentive Matches. The funds were distributed to seven local businesses, The Committee of 100, the Town of Belhaven and two Beaufort County-owned Industrial Parks. The EDC is funded by contributions from Beaufort County, the City of Washington and the municipalities.


    County Manager's Office Real Estate Records re: EDC/ WIP and CIP:

    a. Washington Industrial Park (land acquisition): $1,100,000 (cash from county via EDC budget)

    b. Washington Industrial Park Sewer: $558,000 (NC pass-through grant, no county liability)

    c. Quick Start II: $2,342,000 ($2,325,000 county cash and loan libility, $18,000 grant)

    d. Chocowinity Industrial Park (land and infrastructure): $2,244,000 (cash from county)

    Total Economic Development Commission investment in Industrial Parks: $6,244,000

    Total Beaufort County Cash and Liabilities invested in Industrial Parks: $5,668,000

    Total Economic Development Commission Budget 2002/2010: $2,826,000

    If Beaufort County government had only the cash paid into the Industrial Parks, there would be $4,723,000 more cash in the county's checking account today.

    There would be no program cuts, no furloughs, no tax increases.