How Would A Study Work?

North Carolina State Statutes 153A-401 through 405 under Article 20 give the authority to a municipality to form Consolidation and Governmental Study Commissions.

A Joint Municipal Consolidation/Shared Services study would look at both the concept of consolidation and shared services. The consolidation portion would look at the pros and cons of bringing the towns together into one town. The shared services portion of the study would evaluate every department from each town to see if it might benefit the citizens of both towns to simply bring some departments together.

In a “consolidation” situation, both towns would dissolve their original town charters, and come together as a one town, with a new town charter.

In a “shared services” situation, towns might bring one or more departments together to streamline cost and efficiency. For example, the towns might bring together their fire departments, police departments, or parks and recreation departments to save money on costs and provide a better service to the community at large.

Regarding the actual study, there are many ways it could be done, but here is one short example of process for how a study could be carried out:

1. The town boards of both towns would have to have a majority vote on a resolution to form a joint study commission. That would mean a motion for the study would need to be made and passed in each town by having at least 3 members of each board vote in favor of doing the study.

2. Then a consultant other entity that specializes in government research could do an unbiased analysis of the facts. They would do a “baseline report” of each town’s operations, finances, etc., and also complete an analysis and provide an “options report” that includes different scenarios to choose from on how a consolidation or shared services may be implemented.

For example, we have already been in contact with “The Center For Government Research”, who has done consolidation studies before. They carried out the study for the recent Princeton merger, and are very familiar with how these studies should work.

(An early price estimate from The Center For Government Research for a consolidation/shared services study for Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro is $50,000 - $75,000. This expense could be split by the towns or possibly even come from donors from the private sector. In early 2020, Wilkes County voiced interest in possibly helping fund the study.

3. A joint study commission could also be formed to help carry out some of the minor leg work of the study. It could consist of 2 elected officials and 3 citizens from each town.

4. Once the study is completed the commission would issue a recommendation on whether or not to consolidate, implement shared services, or do nothing at all.

5. If the recommendation is for consolidation then eventually there would be a referendum on a ballot for the citizens to vote on whether or not there would be consolidation.


It is important to note, that while a study takes place, the consultant group doing the study would have a live website that posts updates and all kinds of relevant information from the study in real time, so that citizens from the community can keep up with the most current information.


A study would provide great insight to both towns, and at the very least, would finally answer the question of whether or not it would make sense to bring together the towns of Wilkesboro and North Wilkesboro to strengthen our area and position it for a better future for all of its citizens.