WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH – When it comes to beach renourishment and a potential lack of federal and state funding support, New Hanover County will do what it can for Wrightsville Beach.
That was the message to the Wrightsville Beach Board of Aldermen Thursday night during a presentation from New Hanover County Board of Commissioners Chairman Ted Davis, who talked of intergovernmental spirit and detailed a recently approved county agreement that should keep the upcoming renourishments of Carolina Beach and Kure Beach on track.
“To make a long story short,” Davis told the Wrightsville board, “the Congress appropriated a certain amount of money to the Carolina Beach project. For whatever reason in the state budget this year there were no funds appropriated for the Kure Beach project.”
That left both beach towns in a bind. Kure Beach’s $6.4 million renourishment had no assistance at all, and Congress would only cover less than 60 percent of Carolina Beach’s $7.7 million project.
“Because some other monies (locally and from the state) that were available at Carolina Beach, they were able to cover the cost of their projected beach renourishment project and I think they did a gesture that just shows what can be done when government helps each other out,” Davis said Thursday. “And that is they came up with an extra over $1 million from their funds that they were willing to give Kure Beach to fund their project.”
Specifically, it was the $1.18 million contribution from the state for the Carolina Beach renourishment. Carolina Beach received approval to transfer it to Kure Beach.
In order to keep the project online with a signed agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the county offered to cover the $9.69 million gap in the total project cost, though the corps is bidding the project out as a single job with the goal of limiting actual costs.
The county is responsible for any cost overruns, which could come from bids coming in higher than expected, lawsuits, or unforeseeable problems. The estimated liability is $3.5 million, according to the county.
The county has contributed the aid through its room occupancy tax fund, which held roughly $40 million supplied by taxes on lodging. Wrightsville Beach Town Manager Bob Simpson noted Friday that a good part of that fund originates from rooms and rentals at the beach.
It’s an arrangement that might be a savior for Wrightsville Beach if federal or state money doesn’t come through future renourishment projects.
“I don’t know if that memorandum of agreement tool will be available or not,” Davis told the Wrightsville board. “I don’t know how that’s going to play out as far as Wrightsville Beach is of concern, but I just wanted you to know—and I speak for the board (of commissioners) because we have talked about it—and that is, when it comes that time, and we don’t have that federal money, and we don’t have that state money, then the county is going to work with you just like we worked with Carolina Beach and Kure Beach.”
He noted the importance of beaches to the broader economy as it relates to tourism and property and assured he’d continue to fight for that cause.
U.S. Rep. Mike McIntyre frequently airs a stat that for every dollar spent on beach renourishment, the return is $320.
Davis said Thursday that although the forecast for higher funding support is perhaps bleak, “I feel sure the county commission will still work with you. As you know I’ve always been a big proponent for the beaches and I always will be, no matter where I am.”
Davis is the Republican candidate for the N.C. House’s 19th District. He will face off with Kure Beach Town Commissioner Emilie Swearingen, a Democrat, in November.
Wrightsville Beach Alderman Darryl Mills said as federal funds are increasingly difficult to procure for beach renourishments—projects affected by the federal earmarks ban—his town would appreciate the county’s aid.
“We’re going to need that help,” Mills said. “It certainly benefits the residents of the county to keep the beaches healthy.”
