Rowan News

The editorial board at the Salisbury Post recently called on the Rowan County Commissioners to address how the COVID-19 crisis will affect various plans for capital improvement projects across the community.

The board even questioned whether there will be a need to revisit the $45 million bond referendum voters approved during the recent primary elections that would benefit Rowan-Cabarrus Community College in the April 1 editorial.

It could all be a matter of timing, the board said.

“If things return to normal before summer, the answer may remain that the county has capacity to take on new debt without raising property taxes by more than previously projected,” the editorial board wrote.

However, there are tens of millions in capital projects on the table, and if the economic hobbling brought about by COVID-19 restrictions drags on for months, it could have a significant impact on the county’s revenue streams.

The board brought up the $60 million promised for improvements at county schools and the planned agricultural center at West End Plaza, with a $15 million price tag. 

While the editorial board encouraged the county to urge citizens to strictly follow prescribed protocols in the hope it might shorten the imposed economic shutdown, they acknowledged that the commissioners must also be prepared for a worst-case scenario.

“Even in a prolonged, partial shutdown, there may be an opportunity to move ahead with part or all of the three projects,” the editorial stated.

If the projects were needed, that need will not necessarily go away if the economy crashes, they said.

Even though the world may seem to be paused, the fiscal year still ends in three months for the county.

“County commissioners may agree collectively that the best option is to wait and see what happens, but they should start talking now about their options,” the editorial board concluded.