We have previously discussed here my incompetence in reading staff reports published by Buncombe County. I can read them, but I don’t get enough time off work to perform the necessary detective work to understand them.

Of interest this time around is the budget amendment “To close Landfill Gas to energy project and transfer available balance.” Two of three revenue sources listed have “ARRA” in the line item. They total negative $4,547,396.” Expenditures are also in the negative. If it helps, the budget amendment affects Fund 42.

The leachate program was going to be super-green, and it was making all kinds of headlines. Now, silently, on the consent agenda, it appears county leadership is giving the money back to the federal government. Are they being considerate of the national debt, did they miss deadlines, did fund classifications change, or did the project flop belly-up? The world may never know.