Laurinburg · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Laurinburg public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Potential electric rate impacts from NCEMPA wholesale rate change
An independent audit of 67,000-plus bills found Laurinburg's electric billing 99.96% accurate, with about $132,000 in small recoverable revenue. Residents pay 23% less than the national average, and reliability beat the state average too.
Downtown revitalization and Brownfields plan
Terracon's Main Street Corridor Reuse Plan lays out five years of goals: cut storefront vacancies from 43% to 25%, add downtown housing and restaurants, and build a connector plaza from McDuffie Square to Main Street. Council will comment before the plan is finalized.
Water and sewer capital projects
The city is in the middle of a record-building spree on water and sewer systems — new wells, a McColl Road line replacement, tank renovations, sewer rehab, and pump stations — funded largely by about $31 million in state grants. More funding requests are coming in September.
FY 2026-2027 City Budget
A batch of ordinances shifted money to cover police and IT capital projects, higher wholesale power costs, fire department part-time wages, and McDuffie Stage naming-rights revenue.
127 Main Street restoration project
The city's old bank building downtown is getting a $669,979 makeover using $1.1 million in grant money. Work must finish by late November so the city can be reimbursed, and the brewing company leasing it takes ownership next year.
Bridge Creek & College Park Sewer Rehabilitation
The council moved $250,000 into the water/sewer capital fund to keep the gravity sewer replacement project on South Main Street moving.
FY 2026-27 Budget Input and Retreat
A public hearing is set for June 16, 2026, at 6 p.m. so residents can weigh in on next year's city budget before adoption.
McColl Road Water Line Replacement Phase II
The city was set to award a bid for Phase II of its raw water lines project, part of ongoing investment in the water supply system.
Aberdeen Road Pump Station Renovation
The city was set to award a contract to renovate the Aberdeen Road pump station, a piece of sewer infrastructure residents rely on daily.
Wagram Road rezoning request
A request to rezone 18200 Wagram Road from Residential-20MH to General Business gets its public hearing on February 17, 2026.
Charter Dissolution
East Laurinburg’s mayor is pushing back on a state move to dissolve the town’s charter, saying it amounts to punishment. If it goes through, the town could stop existing as a municipality, and residents could see big changes in who runs local services and represents them.