The Wayne County Board of Commissioners meeting on May 20, 2025, focused on the allocation of unspent funds from previous borrowing for various projects, particularly for the Rosewood Middle School project.

During the meeting, it was reported that approximately $3.85 million remains from a $10 million borrowing in 2020, which was initially intended for projects including financial software, voting equipment, and the construction of the Emergency Services Building. The surplus funds resulted from a redesign of the Joe Gurley Building and higher-than-expected reimbursements from the state 911 board. Additionally, $420,000 was unspent from a 2022 borrowing for Fremont Elementary.

The board discussed plans to request permission from the Local Government Commission (LGC) to reallocate these unspent funds towards the Rosewood Middle School project. This move is seen as beneficial, as it allows the county to lock in lower borrowing rates from previous years—2.18% from 2020 and 2.99% from 2022—compared to current rates. The LGC staff has indicated no issues with this proposal, which is set to be included as a miscellaneous action item on their June agenda.

Furthermore, the board announced an additional $4.1 million in grant funding recently signed by the governor for the Rosewood project, which could extend the timeline for construction and reduce the need for further borrowing. The county's financial obligations for the project will be reassessed as construction progresses, with expectations that the combined funding will support the project until early next year.

The meeting concluded with a call for the board to pass amended installment agreements to formalize the use of the unspent funds for Rosewood Middle School, ensuring that the project remains on track for completion.