After being split from the statistical data covering the greater Wilmington area, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., will try to return Brunswick County to the Wilmington Metropolitan Statistical Area through an amendment to a spending bill that will likely be considered this fall.
Burr has submitted an amendment proposal that will require the director of the federal Office of Management and Budget to include Brunswick County in Wilmington’s MSA, which is used to categorize economic and employment data by region. A spokeswoman said Sen. Burr introduced the legislative change as an amendment to the Commerce, Science and Justice Appropriations Act that funds several government agencies, including the OMB, which moved Brunswick County out of the MSA in February 2013.
The announcement drew praise from the Wilmington Regional Association of Realtors, which argued that moving Brunswick County out of the area’s MSA was making it difficult to study the region’s economy.
“Returning Brunswick County to the Wilmington MSA simply makes good sense,” said WRAR President Don Harris said. “This has made it challenging as we plan for the future because statistical information no longer matches up by state and region.”
WRAR Chief Operating Officer Shane Johnson said the organization recently had difficulties in compiling a housing report with the Wilmington Cape Fear Home Builders Association.
“It was like trying to match oranges with apples,” Johnson said. “With Brunswick back in, it will be easier to see what our metrics are and what history is teaching us.”
Burr introduced legislation along with Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., in April 2015 to change the legislation, while Rep. David Rouzer, R-N.C., introduced a similar bill in the House or Representatives. Johnson said that Burr had been looking for a way to move the legislation and “found an opportunity” with the spending bill.
“All of these folks live in North Carolina and an overwhelming majority work in Brunswick and New Hanover Counties.” said Sen. Burr. “Businesses use this data when deciding where to locate. A bureaucratic record keeping flaw shouldn’t stand between this community and a fair shot at economic development opportunities.”
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