Value of Land Linked to Tall Ships Event in Question

Beaufort, N.C. — Officials disagree over the value of land deeded to the state in connection with last summer's Tall Ships event.

Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum, which organized the event over the July 4 weekend, deeded 36 acres along Gallants Channel to the state, as well as more than $5 million in debt the group had incurred for site improvements.

Council of State members were told the property was worth about $36 million, but the Carteret County tax assessor recently valued the property at $3.6 million, a tenth of the supposed value.

There has been no word on the source of the $36 million estimate.

The dispute is the latest controversy associated with the Tall Ships event:

Long lines created traffic jams and forced some ticket holders to be turned away from the event.
State officials took a taxpayer-funded ferry ride for an up-close view of the festivities.
The national Tall Ships sponsor and the Friends of the North Carolina Maritime Museum have squabbled over payments.
State taxpayers might wind up bailing out the event, which still has thousands of dollars in unpaid bills.

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OK, who is going to investigate this governmental PULL THE WOOL OVER THE TAXPAYERS. What of the article in the N&O that the DOT was negotiating with the group to purchase several acres for millions of dollars which was to off set the debt the group incurred, come on DOT knows the value of land, at lesat when it comes to the common tax payer? And other questions, they now have deeded 36 acres over, which the tax payers of the state had already paid for, how many do they still control? Of the docks and bulkheads they built, how has leasted them, how much is the rent and can the state make money at this? The value of the land based on development, commercial/residentail, if the state does not plan to do this then the land value is far less. Someone needs to investigate this, seems the tax payers of NC paid for a holiday weekend of entertainment to the weathly and politicains.

Nothing New
January 12, 2007 11:46 p.m.

JUST ANOTHER ONE OF EASLEY'S BOGUS LAND DEALS.HE SHOULD HAVE TO ANSWER TO SOMEBODY.

volvoman
January 12, 2007 4:37 p.m.

I wonder who knows who? Maybe some relationships need to be looked into? Is there a conflict of interest involved with the $36 million estimate??? Is someone rubbing some else's pork belly?

El Doggo
January 12, 2007 4:33 p.m.

Looks like Blackbeard is still alive and well and living in Beaufort. Anybody want to buy the Bonner Bridge?

willis2
January 12, 2007 3:55 p.m.

Great the state now ownes property worth 3.6 million, with 5 million in leins on it. Who's great decission was that. I have a house worth about $180,000., I'll sell them for 1.8 million, can we make a deal. At least my property is in Raleigh

builder276
January 12, 2007 3:25 p.m.