City, county tackle funding issues.

Byline: Rochelle Moore

June 21--Wilson officials met for the first time Monday to hash out whether the county will fund economic development and a future corporate park based on a deal all agreed to years ago. At a joint meeting of county, city and economic development leaders, Jennifer Lantz, Wilson Economic Development Council director, and others were concerned about a General Statute provided by the county manager that lays out how government should fund property financed through a private, nonprofit. The law states that government boards need to vote to allocate money each year and with the vote, approve how the money will be spent.

At issue is the funding of Woodard Parkway, at the U.S. 264 Bypass, that city and county leaders agreed to finance by providing WEDC with $250,000 a year. The county budget proposed to cut the funding this year. The Woodard Parkway agreement led Wilson County Properties to finance the …