Bill
HB 395
The bill allocates over 180 million in nonrecurring state funds for targeted infrastructure, public safety, water/sewer, and higher-ed projects in Swain, Jackson, and Transylvania
Status & Context
- Bill: HB 395 (North Carolina, 2025 session)
- Short title: Funds/Jackson, Transylvania & Swain Counties.
- Introduced/Filed: Nov 12, 2024; First reading: Mar 17, 2025. (Bill information you provided indicates it has passed first reading.)
- Type: Appropriation / directed grants (nonrecurring). Funds are appropriated from the State General Fund to the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) for FY 2025–2026 and delivered as directed grants to counties, municipalities, and educational institutions.
Purpose / Intent
- Provide targeted, nonrecurring state financial support for infrastructure, public safety, water/sewer projects, higher education facilities, and nonprofit/emergency equipment in Swain, Jackson, and Transylvania counties and several regional colleges and universities.
Key provisions and dollar allocations (primary items)
- Swain County — $13,191,500 (nonrecurring) to OSBM for a directed grant to Swain County, to fund:
- Bryson City Fire Department ($1,093,500): new water tanker ($505,000); fire alarm/CO detection ($65,000); generator & transfer switch ($25,000); apparatus bay doors ($48,000); hydrant repairs ($450,500).
- Bryson City water and sewer infrastructure: $10,000,000.
- Multipurpose emergency management building: $1,000,000.
- Communication tower: $500,000.
- Qualla Fire Department equipment and engine replacement: $598,000.
Jackson County — $18,601,553 (nonrecurring) to OSBM for a directed grant to Jackson County, to fund:
Transylvania County — $65,256,400 (nonrecurring) to OSBM for directed grants, including:
Transylvania County Board of Education — $28,454,697 (nonrecurring), allocated for:
Higher education and regional colleges (selected allocations)
- Southwestern Community College — $4,500,000 (nonrecurring): $2,000,000 for final phase of Dental Assisting/Hygiene building; $2,500,000 for library/small business/offices center.
- Western Carolina University — $72,924,100 (nonrecurring): campus safety, community housing/site prep, $62,000,000 to complete engineering building, other compliance and operational needs.
- Southwestern Community College (additional) — $9,800,000 for Almond Center repair/renovation.
- Blue Ridge Community College — $109,420,000 (nonrecurring) directed grant (document truncated; includes at least $51,000,000 for Transylvania County Campus facilities and other items).
Who is affected
- Primary beneficiaries: Swain, Jackson, Transylvania counties; specified towns (Brevard, Rosman, Bryson City, Dillsboro, Cashiers, etc.); county fire & rescue departments; law enforcement agencies; public schools and school resource officers; Southwestern Community College, Western Carolina University, Blue Ridge Community College; nonprofit emergency providers in the region.
- State budget: General Fund nonrecurring expenditures for FY 2025–2026.
Timing and procedural notes
- Funds are nonrecurring appropriations allocated for the 2025–2026 fiscal year and are to be administered as directed grants by OSBM.
- As a directed grant bill, it specifies project-by-project uses; oversight, reporting, or matching requirements are not detailed in the portions provided.
- Legislative status: first reading passed (per your materials); subject to standard appropriations and committee review in the General Assembly.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Immediate local infrastructure and public-safety improvements in the three counties, plus major capital investments at regional higher-education institutions (notably large engineering and campus projects).
- Large nonrecurring hit to the General Fund in FY 2025–2026; long-term operating, maintenance, and matching costs for recipients may follow and are not specified.
- Directed grants concentrate funding geographically and by institution—this can expedite local projects but can limit competitive allocation and statewide prioritization.
If you want, I can:
- Produce a one-page fact sheet listing all line-item amounts (complete list), or
- Draft possible fiscal-analysis talking points (estimated state cost, likely recurring impacts for operations/maintenance).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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