By Natalie Anderson
natalie.anderson@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Rowan County Manager Aaron Church will present the fiscal year 2020-21 proposed budget to county commissioners when they meet for a virtual meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday.

Following the presentation, state law requires the board to publish a statement that the budget has been submitted to the governing board and is available for inspection. The statement will also include notice for the time and place of the budget public hearing.

When voting to schedule the public hearing, the board can consider rules that regulate the length of comment for each speaker addressing the board, as well as restricting comments to the subject of the hearing as advertised.

Additionally, commissioners at the meeting will hear an incentive request for “Project Lake.” The project would be a new employer in Rowan County that would create 388 jobs over the next five years, with an estimated investment of approximately $14.1 million in new construction and equipment.

Other items on the agenda at the meeting:

• A request to finance the purchase of 21 vehicles — one vehicle for the Animal Services department, one vehicle for the Rowan Public Library, one vehicle for the Facilities Management department, 16 vehicles for the county Sheriff’s Office and two ambulances for the Emergency Services department. The amount to be financed is $1 million over a three-year term. The county Finance department recommends the board accepts the bid from U.S. Bancorp Government Leasing and Finance, Inc., which offers an interest rate of 1.53% that results in $25,776 worth of interest costs. Additionally, the Finance department requests a new escrow account to service the financing proceeds.
• A request from the county manager to schedule a special meeting for May 27 at 3 p.m. to discuss and adopt a plan to be submitted to the state regarding a potential amount of nearly $2.6 million as part of the Coronavirus Relief Fund funneled from the state.
• A public hearing from county Planning Director Ed Muire to approve the FY 2020-21 HOME Funding Action Plan. Part of the request is to enter into a contract with the Salisbury Community Development Corporation, which will administer the program. The 2020-21 program anticipates the rehabilitation of five owner occupied, single-family units that will require $178,260 in funding.
• A request from the Rowan Public Library to apply for a grant from the State Library, which is providing counties with “mini-grants” to help libraries reopen to the public.

Contact reporter Natalie Anderson at 704-797-4246.