Alderman presses drainage concerns as Board adopts accounting changes for multiple project funds
June 19, 2026 | New Bern, Craven County, North Carolina
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The New Bern Board of Aldermen unanimously adopted ordinance amendments on June 19 to reclassify revenue and expenses for several project funds, including multi-year grants, the 2019 electric improvements project, the Kell Road project, the city CDBG fund, the drainage improvements project fund and the Hurricane Florence fund.
Tanya Harms, the presenter for the items, told the board the amendments move sales tax revenue and related expenses from a balance-sheet account into revenue and expense accounts “as suggested by the LGC and our auditors,” a change she described as an accounting and reporting correction rather than a directive to start or alter capital projects.
During discussion, an alderman raised concerns specifically about drainage work tied to one item (referred to during the meeting as Item E). The alderman urged caution and argued some local fixes—in one example reportedly costing about $300,000—could be only partial solutions, and that a larger reconfiguration of culverts and conveyance (which the speaker estimated could cost closer to $1 million) would better address recurring flooding in areas including Seminary Street, Trent Village and near the Palace Motel. “You never have to spend that $300,000 if you took that water down the highway,” the alderman said, describing local flow paths into the Neuse and Trent rivers.
Another board member and staff clarified the ordinance before the board was limited to accounting recognition of sales and use tax reimbursements in the drainage improvement project fund and not an authorization to redesign or construct a larger stormwater system. Harms reiterated the bond’s stated intent is to address known failures with targeted repairs, while acknowledging broader system improvements would require multiyear design work and additional funding.
A motion to adopt the ordinance amendments was made, seconded and approved by roll call.
The board moved next to the final fiscal year 2026 budget (Item 4) later in the meeting and adopted that ordinance as well.
Tanya Harms, the presenter for the items, told the board the amendments move sales tax revenue and related expenses from a balance-sheet account into revenue and expense accounts “as suggested by the LGC and our auditors,” a change she described as an accounting and reporting correction rather than a directive to start or alter capital projects.
During discussion, an alderman raised concerns specifically about drainage work tied to one item (referred to during the meeting as Item E). The alderman urged caution and argued some local fixes—in one example reportedly costing about $300,000—could be only partial solutions, and that a larger reconfiguration of culverts and conveyance (which the speaker estimated could cost closer to $1 million) would better address recurring flooding in areas including Seminary Street, Trent Village and near the Palace Motel. “You never have to spend that $300,000 if you took that water down the highway,” the alderman said, describing local flow paths into the Neuse and Trent rivers.
Another board member and staff clarified the ordinance before the board was limited to accounting recognition of sales and use tax reimbursements in the drainage improvement project fund and not an authorization to redesign or construct a larger stormwater system. Harms reiterated the bond’s stated intent is to address known failures with targeted repairs, while acknowledging broader system improvements would require multiyear design work and additional funding.
A motion to adopt the ordinance amendments was made, seconded and approved by roll call.
The board moved next to the final fiscal year 2026 budget (Item 4) later in the meeting and adopted that ordinance as well.
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