From doctors to concerned parents, from teachers to school board members; scores of Moore County citizens turned out Tuesday night to support the Moore County Schools' [MCS] request for $3.1 million in additional local funding for the upcoming year. The May 17 Board of Commissioners meeting attracted a crowd of more than two hundred for a public hearing on the County Manager's proposed Fiscal Year 2011-2012 budget, which includes neither a tax increase nor more local money for the schools.
County Manager Cary McSwain told the Board that he has done what was asked of him and his staff: to complete a “balanced and responsible budget.”
Board of Eduction Chair Laura Lang told the Commissioners that schools will be operating next year with fewer administrators, teachers, teacher's assistants, and programs -- with class sizes set to increase. Exactly how much state funding for MCS will be cut, is still unknown, as the Senate continues to debate a House budget that included significant cuts in school funding -- as well as pushing some expenses once covered by the state down to the local level. The House budget would cost MCS an estimated $12 million next year.
The uncertainty about what the Senate might do prompted Lang to ask if MCS can come back to the Commissioners, once the numbers are in and use a portion of the County's fund balance to help close the gap in the school’s budget in order to not raise taxes.
Former School Board members Sue Black, of West End, said “This is the hardest year ever.” She asked the Commissioners to just leave the door open for additional local funding, since “we don’t know what the state is going to do yet.”
Rollie Sampson said all the budget cuts have “weakened our ability to provide an education to our future . . . There is nothing left to cut in our schools.”
Quality Education equals Economic Prosperity
Many in attendance echoed the words of Dr. Barbara Farr: “Well educated students are the future of our economic prosperity.” Pediatrician Dr. Chris Prasio won applause from the crowd when he said, “Families always take care of their children first -- not second, third, or last.”
School Board member Ed Dennison said students who drop out of school will ultimately cost the state $11 billion. He added that the current MCS graduation rate is eighty percent -- an increase from five years ago.
Many speakers during the public hearing said a good quality education helps the economy and keeps students out of jail. Chuck Swanson, a psychiatrist, told the Board: “Pay for education now or jails later.” US Army Major Frank Rodriguez said giving the schools the money they have asked for is “an investment in human capital.”
Why Wait For the State?
Patrick Coughlin, President of the Moore County Chamber of Commerce said the County needs to begin planning to paying for high quality education on its own, rather than wait and “wrestle with uncertainty” about state budgets. “Next year's story may be the same,” he said.
Chairman Nick Picerno, a former teacher, addressed Coughlin after the public hearing was closed, saying money that could be sent to the classroom is being spent on state and federal bureaucrats. “They don’t teach a single kid," Picerno said. "If we take all those dollars sent to Raleigh and Washington, we wouldn’t have a budget problem.”
After the public hearing there was a standing ovation by the audience and the Commissioners. Commissioner Craig Kennedy said the “system is broken,” and needs to be fixed from the top all the way down. He said he appreciated the good relationship between the school board and the Commissioners, adding “As long as we continue to work together we will get through this.”
Superintendent Dr. Susan Purser was recognized Tuesday night for being credited in a nationally publicized magazine, National Education Executive. Lang told the Board that two more national recognitions will be out shortly.
North Carolina Speaker of the House Thom Tillis sent Chairman Picerno a letter saying that each current teacher position will be fully funded by the state in next year's budget. “Let’s hold him true to his word,” said Picerno.
The School Board and Commissioners anticipate that the General Assembly will send a final budget to Governor Beverly Perdue for her signature sometime in June. The County’s new fiscal year begins on July 1.
County Still Accepting Sign Ups to the EMWD
Convening as the East Moore Water District [EMWD] Board of Directors, the Commissioners approved two work order changes: one for McArthur Construction for $133,900 and one for T.A. Loving Company for $55,700 as requested by Assistant County Manager Ken Larking. Any further change orders to the project must be complete by June 1, and the Board voted to allow the County Manager to approve any such changes. Commissioner Tim Lea recused himself from voting due to a conflict of interest.
The EMWD was awarded a forty year loan for $5 million from the USDA Rural Development for a project to install water lines in eastern Moore County. Larking told the Board he did not think the County would get enough sign-ups to use all of the $5 million in funding. In a press release by the County, Larking noted that the Water District is funded through user fees, not property taxes.
Currently the EMWD is accepting hookups at a cost of $250. After June 6 the fee will increase to $750; and, once the project is complete, it will more than double, to $1,900. Approximately 500 homes and businesses surrounding Carthage will be included in the EMWD project.
Board Declines to Increase Utility Rates
The Board of Commissioners opted to forego a $1.4 million grant from the North Carolina Clean Water Management Trust Fund [CWMTF] because conditions of the grant program would have required Moore County Public Utilities to increase its base water and sewer rates from $6.10 to $7.10 per month.
The CWMTF grant would have partially funded the Vass and Crystal Lake wastewater treatment projects, which are receiving another $1 million in funding from the NC Rural Economic Development Center. The project will connect the communities to the County's wastewater treatment plant in Addor.
Commissioner Larry Caddell said he could not justify an increase to every utility customer in Moore County in order to pay for the project, adding “I cannot support that.”
County Manager Cary McSwain explained that, if Crystal Lake is not included in the project, then sewer and water rates can remain the same. The Board agreed that taking Crystal Lake out of the project, at this time, to deflect any increase in utility rates was the best solution.
Assistant County Manager Ken Larking told The Times that foregoing the grant means the county will pay for the project out of existing public utilities funds, and that is not expected to require a rate increase. He added that the Crystal Lake portion of the project has not been abandoned, but merely delayed.
Targeted Transit Assistance Program Approved
Commissioner Tim Lea, the only Commissioner to support a Targeted Transit Assistance Program [TTAP] Application that could bring the county $159,000 in federal grant funding to expand the county' s transportation services, brought it back to the agenda on Tuesday night. The Board voted four-to-one during its Tuesday, May 3 meeting against submitting the grant application.
Chamber President Patrick Coughlin, who serves on the County Board of Transportation, said the program “provides transportation options for a segment of the population to get to and from work” and noted that there are a hundred people on a waiting list for the transportation program. Tawanna Williams, Manager of Moore County Transportation Services, brought back some answers to questions the Commissioners' raised about the program during the May 3 meeting.
Answering concerns raised about the program by Chairman Picerno, Commissioner Lea gave evidence pertaining to the self sufficiency and effectiveness of the program since 1997.
After a five minute recess, Chairman Picerno reconvened the meeting and said he would be willing to approve the grant application as long as the funds will not be used to expand the program, but to fund the current operation. He added, “In the future, we are going to have to live on less from the state and federal government -- it is somebody’s tax payer dollars paying for these grants.”
In the end the Board rescinded their previous vote of opposition and voted unanimously in favor of the TTAP application.
Planning Matters
The Board adopted a Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan as requested by County Long Range Planner Jeremy Rust. The plan, which outlines the response of the county and its municipalities to a natural disaster, is a requirement for receiving any disaster recovery funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA]. The plan must be approved by FEMA before it goes into effect.
County Manager McSwain noted that Moore County Public Safety Department is scheduled to conduct a FEMA drill on June 29.
The Board approved a $9,000 amendment of an engineering contract with Hobbs Upchurch Associates for work being done at the River Bend Subdivision through a CDBG contract.
EMS Recognitions
During Tuesday's meeting, Public Safety Director Bryan Phillips awarded sixteen public safety awards for successful resuscitation of cardiac arrest. Among the recipients were West End Fire and Rescue, Seven Lakes EMS, and Seven Lakes Volunteer Fire Department, who were also recognized for their help responding to an April tornado in Lee County.
The Board approved a request by Phillips to recognize the third week of May as National EMS week.
District Attorney Budget Request
The Board approved a request by District Attorney Maureen Krueger to accept Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Funding. Give Moore Youth Services will receive $140,000; and Moore Buddies Parenting Program, $97,000.
The Board also approved Krueger’s request for $50,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant funding for the Youth Gang Violence Prevention Fund.
Other News
Other news at the Board of Commissioners' Tuesday, May 17 meeting included:
• The Board agreed to exempt several positions from a hiring freeze as requested by Human Resources Director Denis Brook. The positions are all fully funded in this and next year’s budget.
• The Commissioners tabled until June 7 a resolution pertaining to Airport grant match funding from the Convention of Visitor’s Bureau.
• The Commissioners will send a letter of recommendation on behalf of St. Joseph in the Pines in support of their Providence Place Carthage II project.
Appointments
The Board of Commissioners made the following appointments:
• Mickey Brown to an additional four year term to the Sandhills Community College Board of Trustees
• Five individuals to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, including Jayrene Maness, Tina Kissell, Carrie Neil, Emily Coltrane, and Steve Gore.
• J. Wayne Vest to a four year term as the Moore County Tax Administrator.
• Carol Henry to a three year term on the Village of Pinehurst Board of Adjustment ETJ.
