The County Commissioners last week reaffirmed their authority to float industrial development bonds in times of acute unemployment.

Toput the county in line with state law and to make sure industrial development money is available during unemployment, the commissioners acted to authorize "the issuance of bonds and such other activities asmay be required in furtherance of these purposes."

"This is a formality to give us this option if we need the money for economic development," said Commissioner Julia W. Gouge. "It doesn't mean we're going to issue the bonds, just that we can issue them."

In authorizing any future bond sales, the commissioners declaredthe months of February and March -- with unemployment rates at 7.4 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively -- as a period of "acute unemployment."