Commissioners discuss NC Whitewater Center payment

CHARLOTTE — Mecklenburg commissioners agree that the county is obligated to give $1 million to the financially strapped U.S. National Whitewater Center.

The Charlotte Observer reported that commissioners questioned center leaders for nearly an hour Tuesday night before agreeing that the county owed the money as part of a pledge by six local governments.

No vote was necessary.

The center recently reported a $2 million shortfall and said it was unable make payments on $38 million in loans used to build the facility.

Center executive director Jeff Wise says the facility is working with lenders to restructure its loans while also looking at ways to raise more money. But he says forecasts show the center’s revenue falling about 20 percent this year because of the economy.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)