Cabarrus County Commissioners requesting millions for projects starting soon or already completed

CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — Cabarrus County leaders are hoping for another shot to get $186 million for several projects, some of which have already been completed or are scheduled to start soon.

Commissioners were counting on the money, but the Local Government Commission denied their request and told them to come up with a backup plan.

Discussion during the commissioner’s meeting Tuesday night got heated. Several people did not hold back during the meeting, telling commissioners this was embarrassing and that they needed to stop spending money they didn’t have.

The frustration comes after the state auditor told some commissioners in a meeting last week that she was shocked they would bring a plan involving this much money to the state without having any sort of plan B.

“You’ve been rolling the dice with my money, your money and every other taxpayer’s money in this county,” said one man who spoke during the public comment period at the meeting.

It’s back to the drawing board for Cabarrus County Commissioners, and several citizens aren’t happy about it.

“You’re talking about $186 million over there, and you’re adding $530 million in future debt, and now you’re talking about $270 million. I mean, you’re getting on up there. You’ve been told it’s the wrong way to do it.”

The commissioners’ chairman and county manager met with the Local Government Commission last week, asking for millions of dollars to use for multiple projects. That includes building a preschool on the Beverly Hills Elementary campus, among other school improvements and work on a courthouse.

State reps told them their financing plan wasn’t going to work, even though commissioners say it’s one they’ve used before.

“We’ve been doing that successfully, and then all of the sudden it changes; that is the big question there,” said Vice-Chairman Lynn Shue.

Commissioner Christopher Measmer responded to that.

“Because we’ve been warned for a couple of years not to continue this,” he said.

In Tuesday night’s meeting, commissioners discussed going back to the state to ask for more money without having a plan to get rid of existing debt.

“It’s our responsibility to make the best financial decisions for the taxpayers, for the people of this county, and I can’t imagine why we are even considering this when we were just not approved for the other two last week,” said Measmer.

Commissioners are planning to meet virtually with the Local Government Commission on Wednesday to figure out how to move forward.

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