Beaufort County Commissioners are moving into the new year with a strategy for the upcoming year and beyond.

Commissioners met in November to discuss strategies in a planning session led by Neil Emory, an outreach coordinator with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners, to help them identify the issues and objectives most pressing for the county.

“Mr. Emory advised the board that strategic planning was one of the most important activities a board of commissioners can do,” said Beaufort County Manager Brian Alligood.

Identification of major issues fell into four categories: education and job training; economic development; infrastructure; and county service priorities.

Under the education and job training category, discussion centered on the need to create local job opportunities for young adults who would like to stay in the county after their education is completed. Future paths include expansion of career and technical training and workforce development strategies, as well as developing a positive working relationship with the entities that can help deliver both — the Beaufort County Board of Education and the Beaufort County Community College Board of Trustees.

The county will also be looking to spark economic development, not only through courting new business, but finding ways to assist the expansion of existing businesses. The need to extend broadband touches on both infrastructure and economic development and is one way forward in competing in today’s economy.

Commissioners also touched on the positive step taken last year of setting aside 1 cent per $100 property valuation into a dedicated capital reserve fund, a “savings account” to maintain and develop county facilities. Also of importance are the ongoing study of solid waste disposal and the facilities operated by the county, as well as consideration of a joint county/municipalities strategy, as smaller municipal systems have been challenged by tightening environmental regulations, according to Alligood’s notes from the meeting. One infrastructure topic already subject to action at the Dec. 2 commissioners’ meeting was the formation of a committee to study options for the Beaufort County Detention Center.

“Due to existing potential liabilities for staff and inmates, along with continued maintenance and off-site housing costs, the construction of a new detention facility should be studied to determine the long term needs of the community,” Alligood reviewed in last week’s meeting.

Another priority for the county, moving forward, is the retention of county employees.

“The board discussed that its greatest resource in providing efficient and effective services to its citizens is a dedicated and professional staff. It noted that for this resource to remain strong the board needed to provide its staff with a professional environment and compensation competitive for the work provided,” Alligood said.

A past pay plan to bring Beaufort County employees’ pay to levels of comparable counties was developed but not funded.

“(Emory) noted that each board has a reputation across the state and this reputation can have a positive or negative impact on business and staff recruiting,” Alligood said.