Halifax and Northampton counties will see a multi-million dollar benefit from the state’s recently-passed budget that will come in the form of help to local fire departments, water and sewer infrastructure projects and other capital needs.
With funds coming down to the local level for a myriad of projects, North Carolina State Representative Michael Wray maintained, “The most important element of the state budget was passing the Medicaid expansion provision that will provide 600,000 North Carolinians with access to affordable, quality healthcare.”
Wray said, “The Medicaid expansion program will be transformational for Halifax, Northampton and Warren counties – bringing additional monies to strengthen our healthcare provider networks for our hospitals, doctors and other healthcare providers.”
(Agencies which wish to be considered for funding in upcoming state budgets are encouraged to contact Research Assistant Cheryl Edwards at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
Jason Harrell, president of ECU North Hospital, said, “ECU Health North Hospital is appreciative of the passing of Medicaid Expansion and the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program which will provide significant benefit to our community and ultimately improve access to healthcare in our region.
He said, “As we know, access to healthcare is vital to support the vibrancy and economic growth of local communities. ECU Health North looks forward to continuing to provide high-quality care to those we are proud to serve.”
Michael Waldrum, CEO of ECU Health and Brody School of Medicine dean, said after the budget was passed, “ECU Health is grateful to legislators for their commitment to supporting rural health care with Medicaid expansion and other critical funding in the state budget.”
Waldrum thanked state lawmakers for their commitment. “Eastern North Carolina will receive support to improve access to care, medical education opportunities, funding for the medical examiner’s office and more.”
In short, Waldrum said, “This budget enables ECU Health and other rural healthcare providers to improve the lives of those we serve. This budget also sets the stage for innovation with NC Care which will positively transform health care delivery in rural communities across the state.”
Local benefits
Locally, Wray said, “I was able to work across party lines to identify more than $100 million in critical investments for Halifax, Northampton and Warren counties.”
He said he supported the budget “because there were important investments that will benefit our region and will help drive a stronger economy for our state.”
While there were some elements of the budget he didn’t “necessarily agree with,” he said he believes “that when you can get 80 percent of what you want – it’s a fair compromise for our district and our state.”
Halifax County Schools
Halifax County Schools is receiving $1.6 million from the state budget.
Superintendent Eric Cunningham said, “I’m extremely grateful to the work that has been done to improve funding in Halifax County Schools. This money will serve our children extremely well.”
Cunningham said the school system will use the money to “prop up our science labs, to incentivize our teachers to stay and to work with our classified employees. I am extremely excited. I’m extremely grateful to Michael Wray for the work that he has done — not only with this money but with the Needs-based grant as well. Resources make a difference in the success of the children and when you’re a Tier 1 school you must have assistance from outside sources because we’re unable to do that internally.”
Fire departments
Davie will receive $500,000 for a fire engine
Littleton will receive $150,000 for turnout gear and equipment
Weldon will receive $200,000 for first responder vehicles
Capital and infrastructure
Halifax County will receive $8,250,000 for renovations to the courthouse on Ferrell Lane
The town of Halifax will receive $1,200,000 for a lift station
The town of Littleton will receive $15,000,000 for water infrastructure
The town of Weldon will receive $800,000 for a water infrastructure project at the 173 exit
Judicial District 7 will receive $1,231,447 for a public defenders office and public defenders which will serve the entire judicial district. It will be based in Northampton County.
The Halifax County court system will receive $500,000 for a criminal drug treatment court pilot program
The Doe Spun building in Hollister will receive $180,000 for improvements to the building
The Center for Energy Education has received $150,000, which will be used as seed money for a clean energy workforce lab
In addition to that funding the Lake Gaston Weed Control Council will receive $300,000 this year and $300,000 next year for Lyngbya treatment.
Northampton County
The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald of Ahoskie reported that Northampton County government will receive $18,600,000 for water and sewer projects and another $2,500,000 for the Northampton Detention Center.
The town of Woodland will gain $3,800,000 in state funding for water and sewer improvements. The town of Jackson is awarded $1,000,000 to install a new well.
Jackson Mayor Monty Hux told rrspin Monday that when the well was first put in around the early 70s it was pumping 275 gallons a minute and now it’s pumping 75 gallons a minute. “You can see where we’re at and we definitely need a new well. If we were to have any kind of a big fire or anything like that we would have to try to tap into the county’s water to supplement what we have.”
It is especially important at this time of year with a cotton gin located in town. “They use a lot of water and the cotton storage warehouse has a sprinkler system. If they were to have a fire there that would really pull on it. We’ve also got the new courthouse that’s coming. That sprinkler system is going to be tied into our water supply. We definitely need this new well.”
Wray told the Ahoskie paper that he was proud to also help local fire departments.
The state budget includes $500,000 each for the Conway and Woodland volunteer fire departments; $400,000 for the Lasker VFD; $250,000 for the Garysburg VFD; and $220,000 for the Rich Square VFD.
Additionally, Wray secured $350,000 for Pine Forest Rest Home in Potecasi, $100,000 for the town of Lasker, $150,000 for the Lake Gaston Community Center; and $25,000 for the Northampton County Museum.
Other budget facts
Wray said there will be $2 billion added to the state’s clean water projects helping local communities make investments and improvements in their water systems.
The budget included $3 billion for major investments in the transportation system.
“The budget also uses $500 million for the NC Innovation Fund, which will be used to help monetize the research being done at our universities and take it to the market — bringing new jobs and new economic growth to the state in agribusiness, innovation and technology,” Wray said.
Cal Bryant of the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald contributed to this report
