Winston-Salem/Forsyth Joint EOC Funds.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Paul Lowe

Provides a one-time $1,000,000 grant to Forsyth County to establish a joint Winston-Salem/Forsyth EOC for improved emergency coordination.

Passed 1st Reading

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Purpose and Intent

The bill seeks to appropriate funds from the General Fund to support Forsyth County and the City of Winston-Salem in creating a joint Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

The overarching goal is to improve coordination and response during emergencies by establishing a shared facilities and operations center for both the county and city.

Key Provisions

Funding Authorization

Appropriates $1,000,000 in nonrecurring funds for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
The funds are to be provided as a grant to Forsyth County.

Use of Funds

The grant is designated to assist in creating a joint city-county Emergency Operations Center.
The focus is on enhancing coordination between the county and the City of Winston-Salem during emergencies.

Effective Date

The act becomes effective July 1, 2026.

Who Is Affected

Forsyth County: Receives the grant directly to support the EOC project.

City of Winston-Salem: Collaborates with the county in establishing the joint EOC; funds allocated to assist the joint center are intended to benefit both jurisdictions.

Emergency Management Operations: The joint EOC is intended to improve coordination for emergency response and management.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Funding Timeline: Nonrecurring funds are appropriated for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

Disbursement Mechanism: Funds are to be allocated as a grant from the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM) to Forsyth County.

Effective Date: Legislative change takes effect July 1, 2026, aligning with the start of the fiscal year and enabling grant distribution for the 2026-2027 period.

Potential Impact

Operationally, the bill enables the development or expansion of a joint EOC, which could improve intergovernmental coordination, resource sharing, and response times during disasters or large-scale emergencies.

The nonrecurring grant may cover planning, construction, equipment, technology, or staffing needs associated with establishing the joint EOC.

By specifying a joint EOC, the bill emphasizes collaborative governance between Forsyth County and Winston-Salem, potentially influencing future emergency management practices and funding allocations.

Notes

The bill is narrowly focused on one-time funding for a specific capital/operational project (joint EOC) and does not establish ongoing appropriations beyond the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

As introduced, the measure is a simple appropriation to support a particular intergovernmental project and does not outline detailed requirements, reporting, or oversight beyond the grant mechanism to Forsyth County.

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