Governor Pat McCrory’s Connect NC Bond Proposal will make significant, statewide investments in public safety.
“Public safety and security are essential to our quality of life in North Carolina,” Governor McCrory said. “Through Connect NC investments in National Guard facilities and training academies for the State Highway Patrol, correctional officers and other law enforcement we will enhance public safety for future generations.”
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. Funding will be leveraged to upgrade aging infrastructure while partnering with other state agencies to regionalize and consolidate facilities for better emergency response.
To ensure that we have the resources to adequately train our law enforcement officers, Connect NC will also invest $25 million for new facilities and equipment at the State Highway Patrol Training Academy in Wake County. Additionally, $28 million will be dedicated to convert the former Samarcand Youth Development Center into a top-notch, residential training academy for adult correction, juvenile justice and other law enforcement personnel.
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. Connect NC is targeted investments in North Carolina’s roads, education, public health, public safety, 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.
The transportation proposal would pay for 27 permit-ready highway projects throughout North Carolina that have completed environmental documents. In addition, Connect NC would fund the paving of 176 unpaved secondary roads totaling 113 miles.
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://www.connect.nc.gov .