The Haywood County Board of Commissioners voted in favor of appealing to the NC Local Government Commission for approval of a loan to build the controversial green creative arts center on the campus of Haywood Community College. Only the Bank of America was amenable to financing the project for fifteen years. Since the project wasn’t bid within expectations, the college is “working with a value engineer.” $1 million in cuts have included simplifying stone masonry, reducing landscaping, and reducing student display space.
To pay off the loan, the county will use almost all the proceeds of its newly-approved quarter-cent sales tax through October, 2025. College representatives hope increased sales with the recovering economy will provide more revenue, as their master plan identifies $70 million in capital improvement needs. Commissioner Skeeter Curtis acknowledged a worsening economy could shift the responsibility of paying for the building to Haywood County property owners. Only Kevin Ensley opposed proceeding with the risk.
