Clash over Dell cash

Forsyth says it never agreed to discount for early payback

By: Wesley Young | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: November 13, 2009

Some county commissioners want to make sure that Dell Inc. pays back all of $7.9 million in economic incentives that it received from the county.

Every ... last ... penny.

Or, $7,916,328 to be exact.

The county has already pocketed its share of the money that Dell repaid to Winston-Salem and Forsyth County last week.

But that payment included a discount for paying back the money early. The company did not legally have to pay back the money until after its plant closes, which will be in January.

For the county, the discount was just shy of $20,000.

The county has invested the money. Paul Fulton, the county's finance director, told commissioners during a briefing yesterday that he could bill Dell if the county doesn't recoup the full amount of the discount-- which comes to $19,757.88.

Commissioner Debra Conrad suggested going a step further. If there's a shortfall, she said, and Dell doesn't pay up, the county should send the bill to the city of Winston-Salem.

The city negotiated the discount without the county's permission, Commissioner Gloria Whisenhunt said.

In a telephone interview, Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines said that he discussed the discount in advance with Dave Plyler, the chairman of the county board.

Joines said that Plyler "thought it was a great idea to get the money in hand."

However, the entire board never formally voted on the discount.

Joines said that the city even offered to hold the county's money until next year and repay the county the entire amount but was turned down by county officials.

Joines said that the city wouldn't pay the county if it gets a bill.

Some commissioners were skeptical about trying to claim any shortfall from Dell. Commissioner Walter Marshall said that the county should have raised that objection earlier.

"Two weeks ago, the big buzz was whether we were going to get anything," Marshall said. "What would you rather do -- accept it now or wait a few months?"

After the meeting, Plyler said he agreed with Marshall.

"Before the bill was paid, all kinds of people were saying you would never get the money and you would have to sue for it," Plyler said.

Commissioners will vote on the terms of the Dell repayment Nov. 23.

wyoung@wsjournal.com

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