Catawba County is about to feel the results of the quarter-cent sales tax increase beginning on April 1, 2008.

The voters agreed to allow a quarter-cent sales tax increase when three-fourths of them voted in favor of the Nov. 6, 2007 referendum.  But what is that estimated $5 million going to do for the county and its citizens?

Lee Worsley, Catawba County Assistant Manager said three words describe how the commissioners intend to spend the money generated from the sales tax increase: economy, safety and education.

Some of the money will be used to fund incentives to attract new jobs to the county and go toward a multijurisdictional business park to be located off Startown Road near U.S. 321.

“Certainly, we need to grow jobs,” Catawba County Board of Commissioners Chair Kitty Barnes said. “In the economic development world they say you need product out there to attract people to an area. We don’t have a lot of product… We’re looking at how to increase the jobs.  That's just another piece of the puzzle where we feel it’s an opportunity for us to move in that direction.”

The Southeastern Water Loop, which will provide water and sewer service to much of the Sherrills Ford area is also part of the commissioners’ plans to boost the economy. The project is currently being bid on to determine how much it will cost before construction begins this summer.

“I think it will be key to economic growth as this area does develop,” Barnes said. “I think it is important. We're trying to get a backbone in so we're set up to serve this area over the long haul.”

Catawba County Senior Planner Sue Ballbach said water and sewer availability will be very important in attracting some businesses to the region, including those in food preparation, daycare centers and businesses that use a lot of water.

“We’ve known where the areas are that need water,” Commissioner Dan Hunsucker said. “We’re trying to be methodical in the way we make the loop around the county.  Hopefully we can continue to extend (the water and sewer lines) out as money becomes available.

School funding will also get a boost from the sales tax revenue.

“They need it,” Barnes said.  “Certainly it’s a way we can go back and watch our school systems have the opportunity to do the things they want to do. We want to be supportive (of their efforts to improve education.)”

The commissioners would like to put a large portion of the money to improve public safety.

Those efforts would begin with the construction of a new emergency center, which would include a 911 center, an emergency operations center, Newton-Conover Rescue Squad base and Newton EMS base, Worsley said.  It would be a co-location effort he said, which would require moving the agencies from their current locations.  The Newton EMS base is currently at the Catawba County Agricultural Resource Center while emergency services reside in the Catawba County Government Center and the Newton-Conover Rescue Squad is off South Brady Avenue in Newton.

He said the center would likely be constructed on one of three potential locations on the county’s 90 acres off Radio Station Road and U.S. 321.  One option is behind the Catawba County Justice Center where Piedmont Wagon used to be located, there is another potential location closer to N.C. 10 and the other possibility is further back on the property behind the Justice Center.  However, Worsley said the construction is still about three or four years in the future, though planning and budgeting has already begun due the high cost of those type of projects.

Barnes said the main concern is that they have outgrown their current spaces.

“We keep up with what they perceive as their needs,” Barnes said of the requests made by people involved in emergency services. “We have a good relationship and good coordination. As our population has grown, that's (an issue) we have to look out for. Making sure we can meet the response times that are appropriate. It's an ongoing challenge to meet the needs.”

The Catawba County Justice Center will also be expanded.  The more than 30-year-old facility will have a new section added on sometime within the next three years, Worsley said.  The new expansion would include new court rooms on the second level and administrative space on the first floor.  Catawba County Superior Court Clerk Al Jean Bogle said she and the judges are requesting about four small courtrooms than can seat about 100 people rather than only a couple larger 150-seat courtrooms.

“We haven't done anything for 20 some years,” Barnes said.  “Case loads are up and I understand we need more courtrooms and there's a need for more storage space. Obviously the whole justice system in North Carolina has not kept up with the growth.”

The commissioners discussed potentially renting or leasing an empty building to use as court space, however, Barnes said it is not a highly recommended option.  Due to the specific needs of the courts, Bogle also said it’s not an ideal situation and said the expansion would be a much better option, particularly in the long term.

Worsley said the county will likely receive the first of the sales tax revenue in June.  Barnes said there will not be any immediate spending of the money, rather it will be incorporated into the long-term planning for the county in the 2008-09 budget.

“In NC you can't spend money you don't have when it comes to local government,” Barnes said.