This post was originally published on this site.
The Alexander County Board of Commissioners received a favorable audit report during its February 2nd meeting.
Beau Hildebrand of Martin Starnes & Associates CPAs presented the county’s audited financial statements for fiscal year 2024-2025. The firm issued an “unmodified opinion,” the highest level an audit can receive, indicating the financial statements are fairly presented with no material misstatements.
“I would like to thank the Board of Commissioners and our finance director for a job well done,” said Chairman Larry Yoder. “Everybody working together helped ensure our financial stability.”
Hildebrand noted the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) continues to introduce new reporting requirements, increasing the overall complexity of local government financial reporting.
He reported that 2024-2025 General Fund revenues were comprised mainly of property taxes at 48 percent, local option sales tax at 26 percent, and restricted intergovernmental (federal and state grants) at 11 percent. Property tax revenues increased by only $53,968 (0.2 percent), whereas local option sales tax increased by $450,693 (3.1 percent).
In terms of General Fund expenditures, the four largest areas include public safety (34 percent), human services (25 percent), general government (18 percent), and education (15 percent). Public safety expenditures increased by $1,296,927 (8.1 percent), human services expenditures increased by $369,490 (3.1 percent), general government expenditures increased by $659,227 (7.9 percent), and education expenditures increased by $126,007 (1.7 percent).
General Fund debt balance as of June 30, 2025, totaled $652,000 (law enforcement center), which was paid off in January 2026.
“Alexander County Government is now debt-free in the general fund,” said Chairman Yoder. “Not many counties can say that.”
Available fund balance increased by $4,991,118, which brings the county’s fund balance percentage to 44.82 percent of total General Fund expenditures and transfers, for a total available fund balance of $26,527,047 ($21,535,929 in 2023-2024). Hildebrand said the fund balance is equivalent to approximately five months of expenses.
The Solid Waste Fund showed a budgetary net loss of $208,483. The County Water & Sewer Fund showed a budgetary net income of $242,204. The total debt for water and sewer funds is $9,970,498, which will be paid off in 2041.
In other business:
• Commissioners approved a Level 1 Economic Development Incentive Grant, as presented by Economic Development Director Michael Worley. Jonathan-Wesley Furniture, LLC is planning to relocate from its 20,000 square foot facility on Rink Dam Road to a 46,000 square foot facility on Highway 16 South. The project includes approximately $3 million in building acquisition and capital investment, and is anticipated to create 30 new jobs and retain 10 existing employees. The grant will not exceed $58,500, to be paid annually over five years. “We not only try to recruit new businesses, but we also truly care about our existing industries,” said Chairman Larry Yoder. “Economic development is open and doing everything we can for the citizens of Alexander County.”
• Kiley’s Sugar Shoppe will be the new tenant in the county-owned property at 16 West Main Avenue in downtown Taylorsville. The board approved the tenant and lease agreement, as presented. The county issued a request for proposals for a commercial tenant in December 2025, with one application received from Kiley Walley, the owner of Kiley’s Sugar Shoppe.
“Many thriving downtown districts feature a bakery as a gathering place, and I believe my business would be a strong addition that brings warmth, charm, and increased activity to downtown Taylorsville,” said Walley, in her application.
The rehabilitation project is nearing completion at the former Chamber of Commerce building.
• Anthony Starr, Executive Director of the Western Piedmont Council of Governments, presented information about Catawba River interbasin transfers. He said Charlotte currently has a 33 million gallons per day (GPD) interbasin transfer certificate and has requested an additional 30 million GPD. Concord-Kannapolis has a 20 million GPD certificate, which includes 10 million GPD from the Catawba River. Mooresville has an interbasin transfer allowance of 9.54 million GPD.
Starr said the Catawba River is the first river in the country that was completely planned and developed for electricity production, and is the most densely populated river basin in North Carolina.
He said Charlotte Water’s 30 million GPD increase would serve about 300,000 more people in eastern Mecklenburg County, benefiting Charlotte while harming communities located in the Catawba River basin. Starr said trends suggest the availability of water in the basin may be declining, too.
“They (Charlotte Water) have the means, just not the desire, to pursue alternatives for water,” said Starr. “Our region’s future growth could be limited because of these large interbasin transfers. The limited resources of the Catawba River should not be used to subsidize huge growth outside the river basin.”
The Catawba River Coalition has been formed and includes local governments from Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, and McDowell counties. The WPCOG is coordinating regional discussions and responses to the Charlotte Water IBT request.
• Commissioners approved amendments to the Alexander County Voluntary Farmland Preservation Program Ordinance, as presented by Soil & Water District Director Pamela Bowman. The revisions are a result of House Bill 126, which modified NCGS 106-740 to mandate public hearings for rezoning requests concerning enrolled voluntary agricultural district parcels, prolongs the timelines for these public hearings, and more.
• Commissioners approved four budget amendments, as presented by County Manager Justin Mundy. The first amendment results in a net increase of $99,494 in general fund expenditures to increase the sheriff’s office budget for a Governor’s Crime Commission grant and to increase the detention center budget for inmate medical bills and supplies. The second amendment budgets for the closeout of the Streamflow Rehabilitation Assistance Program (StRAP) round two grant project fund. The third amendment results in a net increase of $100,531 in fire district fund expenditures to budget for true-up adjustments to pay out the June 30, 2025, fund balance amounts of the fire districts. The fourth amendment results in a net decrease of $39 in Paragon Films Rail Project Fund expenditures to budget for the closeout of the project.
• Commissioners approved the consent agenda: $8,618.12 in tax abatements & adjustments and $21,514.77 in tax refunds; minutes from the January 5th regular meeting; appointment of Taylor Clark to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council; and a line-item transfer report.
The next meeting of the Alexander County Board of Commissioners is set for Monday, March 2 at 6:00 p.m. at the CVCC Alexander Center for Education (room #103). Regular meetings are recorded and can be viewed on the county’s Government Channel on Spectrum channel 192 or the county’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/alexandercountync. Meeting agendas, minutes, videos, and more are available on the county’s website at https://alexandercountync.gov/commissioners.