North Carolina leaders sign off on DMV move out of Raleigh

By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s top elected officials have signed off on moving the state Division of Motor Vehicles headquarters out of Raleigh.

The Council of State voted Tuesday for DMV to go ahead and enter a lease for property in Rocky Mount.

A law ordered DMV to leave its aging property in October 2020 and seek leased property in Wake County or in surrounding counties. Rocky Mount space was the lowest bid, at an average annual cost of $2.4 million.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina is unhappy with the decision, which could affect more than 400 workers. But Gov. Roy Cooper leads the council and calls the relocation a “positive move for the state” and wise use of taxpayer dollars.

Lawmakers could still intervene to reset the search process.