Department of Public Safety Secretary and State Budget Director Talk Connect NC at Samarcand Training Academy | Eastern NC Now

    Jackson Springs, N.C.     Department of Public Safety (DPS) Secretary Frank L. Perry and State Budget Director Lee Roberts met with Moore County leaders today to highlight the public safety improvements included in Governor Pat McCrory's Connect NC bond proposal.

    Today's event took place at the Department of Public Safety Samarcand Training Academy. The bond package will invest $28 million toward the conversion of the former Samarcand Youth Development Center into a top-notch, residential training academy for adult correction, juvenile justice and other law enforcement personnel.

    "This is an investment in the future of public safety in our state," Secretary Frank L. Perry said. "The skills and lessons learned here by our employees will help protect North Carolinians for generations to come."

    Overall, the Connect NC bond package will invest $80 million in various public safety projects across the state. Of the public safety investments, $19 million is slated to improve National Guard regional armories and future readiness centers. Another $25 million will support new facilities and equipment at the State Highway Patrol Training Academy in Wake County. Other public safety investments in the bond package include $6 million for major renovations to the State Bureau of Investigation headquarters and $796,000 for improved State Highway Patrol vehicle paint booths.

    "The need for investment is clear. It has been 15 years since the last general obligation bond was authorized to improve infrastructure and North Carolina has added 2 million people in population since then," Roberts said. "We must take advantage of historically low interest rates to make long-term investments that support our growth and prosperity."

    Connect NC is targeted investments in North Carolina's roads, education, public health, parks and military. From small farming towns to large cities, Connect NC projects will benefit every community across the state while creating thousands of jobs along the way.

    Because of the state's fiscal strength and strong balance sheet, no tax increase is needed to fund the bonds and the state's AAA bond rating would be preserved.

    To learn more about Connect NC, visit http://connect.nc.gov.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov