§ 77-89.6.  Powers of Commission; administrative provision.

(a) Within the limits of funds available to it and subject to the provisions of this Article and of any joint resolution, the Commission may do all of the following:

(1) Hire and fix the compensation of permanent and temporary employees and staff that are necessary in carrying out its duties.

(2) Contract with consultants for services.

(3) Contract with the State of North Carolina or the federal government, or any agency or department or subdivision thereof, or any other person.

(4) Lease, rent, purchase, or otherwise obtain suitable quarters and office space for its employees and staff and lease, rent, purchase, or otherwise obtain furniture, fixtures, aircraft, vessels, vehicles, firearms, uniforms, and other supplies and equipment.

(5) Lease, rent, purchase, construct, otherwise obtain, maintain, operate, repair, and replace, either on its own or in cooperation with other public or private agencies or individuals, any of the following: parks, shoreline and water recreational areas, swimming pools and swimming areas, marinas, fishing piers, boat docks, boating and fishing access areas, navigation aids, waterway markers, public information signs and notices, and other items of real and personal property designed to enhance public recreation, public safety in Lake Norman and its shoreline area, or protection of property in the shoreline area.

(6) Assess fees as provided in G.S. 77-89.9, except as limited by any other provisions of State or federal law.

(7) Request the Department of Environmental Quality to add certain species of vegetation and algae, as specifically applicable to Lake Norman and its shoreline area, to the Aquatic Weed Control Program.

(b) The Commission may accept, receive, and disburse in furtherance of its functions any funds, grants, services, or property made available by the federal government or its agencies or subdivisions, by the State or its agencies or subdivisions, municipalities and towns or their agencies, or by private and civic sources.

(c) The boards of the participating local governments, municipalities, and towns bordering Lake Norman may appropriate funds to the Commission out of surplus funds or funds derived from nontax sources. They may also appropriate funds out of tax revenues and may annually levy taxes for the payment of the appropriation as a special purpose.

(d) The Commission is subject to any audit requirements specified in any joint resolution.

(e) The Commission may, with the agreement of the board concerned, utilize personnel and property of or assign responsibilities to any officer or employee of any of the participating local governments. A contribution in kind may, with the agreement of the other participating local governments, be deemed a substitute, in whole or in part, for the financial contribution required of the participating local government in support of the Commission.

(f) Unless otherwise specified by joint resolution, each of the participating local governments shall annually contribute an equal financial contribution to the Commission in an amount appropriate to support the activities of the Commission in carrying out its duties.

(g) Before the close of each fiscal year, the Commission shall prepare a budget for the ensuing year for consideration by the boards of each participating local government for approval. Upon receiving the budget from the Commission, the board of each participating local government shall consider the budget and make recommendations as to any changes it deems advisable. Each participating local government shall complete its action on the Commission's budget on or before the beginning of the Commission's fiscal year, or such later date as specified by joint resolution.  (1969, c. 1089, s. 6; 2025-67, s. 5.1(a)-(c).)