(Raleigh, N.C.) – State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, announced today that he has confirmed with Tyrrell County Commission Chair Nathan Everett that more than 125 prisoners have been transferred to the Tyrrell Prison Work Farm.
“I appreciate the administration reopening the prison in Tyrrell County,” said Treasurer Folwell. “Not only will it help the economy of the area, but it will help alleviate the overcrowding in other prisons that could help prevent the spread of COVID-19 to inmates and employees of the prisons. Since the Tyrrell County work farm is one of the more modern facilities, I hope its opening will quickly be defined as ‘fully staffed and operational.’”
Tyrrell County, the smallest county in North Carolina, was hit hard in September 2019 when the Department of Public Safety (DPS) closed the work farm, citing staffing shortages of corrections officers and prison personnel. The closure had severe economic consequences for Tyrrell County and the Town of Columbia because the prison was the largest customer of the water and sewer system, representing approximately 30% of the system’s total output.
Treasurer Folwell asked the administration to pay the county’s $304,735.73 water and sewer charges to keep the county and the Town of Columbia from defaulting on bonds taken out in 1998 to build the water treatment facility and sewer lines to support the prison. Default could have led to the Local Government Commission (LGC) taking over the management of the county and town.
The Office of State Budget and Management subsequently identified and authorized the transfer of DPS carryforward funds that would be used as grants-in-aid to Tyrrell County of $209,000, with another $113,603 going to Columbia. While those grants would cover the one-year costs, longer-term financial issues can only be addressed with the full reopening of the prison.
“I’m pleased to be able to hear some good news for the folks in that area,” added Treasurer Folwell. “Whether it’s the sale of Pepsis or the building of a new home, the prison is an economic driver for the people of Tyrrell County and Columbia. Flattening the economic curve for rural North Carolina is like an ‘ant eating a ham biscuit.’ It happens one bite at a time. And this was a big bite. Hopefully, we can get them on a solid financial footing going forward.”
Treasurer Folwell also expressed his appreciation for the help of Sen. Bob Steinburg, Rep. Edward C. Goodwin, the Tyrrell County Commissioners, County Manager David Clegg, the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and the North Carolina League of Municipalities for bringing attention to the area’s plight and their role in ultimately getting the facility reopened.
The Department of State Treasurer’s State and Local Government Finance Division handles the sale and delivery of all state and local debt and monitors the repayment of state and local government debt. More information can be found at the LGC’s homepage.