NC House to Look at Options for Selling Government Assets

State-owned hospitals, prisons, land, vehicles could be for sale

RALEIGH (By Karen Welsh, Carolina Journal Online) — The proposed sale of Rex Healthcare to Wake Med spurred House Speaker Thom Tillis, R-Mecklenburg, to take a more thorough look at the assets on the state’s balance sheet.

In late June, Tillis picked former co-speaker Rep. Harold Brubaker, R-Randolph, to head a committee that would examine surplus state property, including unwanted land, vehicles, and buildings.

Fiscal conservatives repeatedly have called for such a review. They say property that has commercial value and is not needed for state operations should be taken off the government ledger and put in private hands, where it can generate tax revenues. Liberals are more cautious, warning against shedding buildings and other property that is used to provide essential public services.

Jordan Shaw, a spokesman for Tillis, said Brubaker is currently in the process of putting together a committee to look at asset distribution and management.