A veto override vote still has to pass the N.C. House of Representatives for the measure to become law. That vote is expected before the Christmas holidays. An override vote is anticipated.
The megasite has been a focal point of both anticipation and controversy within the community.
Proponents have viewed it as a catalyst for substantial economic growth, while opponents have expressed concerns about environmental impacts and changes to the rural character of the area.
Earlier this year, the project faced opposition from residents worried about its proximity to Lake James and potential effects on local ecosystems.
The $20 million transfer was included in the bill at the request of the Burke County Board of Commissioners.
The request to pull monies from the megasite and construct a speculative shell building in the business park was publicly disclosed in Burke County by the commissioners or representatives of Burke Development Inc., which oversees both projects.
The diversion would leave insufficient monies to purchase the land or build critical infrastructure at Great Meadows, leaving the megasite as “an unfunded project,” Burke County Manager Brian Epley said last week.
The Burke Business Park is an 83-acre site at the Kathy Road Exit off I-40, currently has only one tenant, Unix Packaging. It broke ground there in January 2023, and its building remains under construction.
The fund reallocation strategy came within a week before the bill was ratified on Nov. 20. Governor Cooper swiftly vetoed the bill.
The funding reallocation request was buried in the 132-page bill, the core components of which address a restructure of authority of the Governor and Hurricane Helene relief funding.
The bill now returns to the House, where a similar override vote is anticipated. If successful, the legislation will become law.
