Rocky Mount eyes expansion: Almost $160 million land deal with Franklin County proposed

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (WSET) — The Town of Rocky Mount could become larger, thanks to a proposed agreement with Franklin County and Town officials.

This week, an agreement was made to adjust the Rocky Mount boundary lines to bring in land worth almost $160 million.

Rocky Mount Mayor Holland Perdue said this proposal has been in the works for about a year.

“About February in 2023 with some things we were trying to work out with the county including the fire truck and some land. Then we purchased 64 acres, 24 of which were located in Franklin County. That started the discussion and then of course now we have 159.6 million dollars worth of tax-assessed land that we are hoping to be brought into the town,” Perdue said.

The agreement for the Rocky Mount Volunteer Fire Department is for the Town to give $800,000 in funding to the County and then starting in 2031 the County will fund 60% of the Town's fire apparatus needs. Perdue said this will help calls for the Town and County.

“They run 60% of calls outside town limits. They don’t just operate solely in the town,” Perdue said.

Perdue said while folks will get an added town tax rate increase, this proposal would help folks' water bills to go down.

“We have a town tax rate of 13 cents per 100 so that will be assessed to the new residents but 90 to 95 percent of those people already receive water through the town. And so their bill is double because they are Franklin County residents and not Town residents," Perdue said.

According to town officials, the current rate for town wastewater/water services is $41.43 per month.

For folks in the county, that rate is $82.86 per month.

They will also receive trash pickup if they become part of the town.

Perdue said he doesn’t have the number of people/households that would be added yet, but that this agreement would benefit both the Town and the County.

“It’s good for both sides because you got to remember part of the agreement is Summit View, the industrial park on 220. Their wastewater is going from 400,000 to 700,000 gallons per day. That allows them to attract bigger businesses," Perdue said.

There will also be a building swap between the County-owned 40 West Court Street building and the Town-owned building on 85 West Court Street.

The next step is for a public hearing to be held and to advertise an adjustment to the Town boundary lines before a final vote is made. Officials said they hope to hold the hearing next month.