May 29, 1995 - 10:00 AM - County Board of Commissioners Meeting Minutes (Special)

May 29, 1995The Johnston County Board of Commissioners met in special joint session with theBoard of Education on Monday, May 29, 1995, at 1000 am in the Board of EducationMeeting Room, School Administration Office, Hwy 70 East, Smithfield, North Carolina,with the following CommissionersPresent Norman C Denning, Chairman, John M Booker, Vice Chairman,James W Cash, Jerry F Wood, DDS, Eleanor N Creech, Cecil MMassengill, and Cookie PopeAbsent NoneAlso Present Richard B Self, County Manager, and Joyce H Ennis, Clerk to theBoardBoard of Education Members Present Kay Carroll, Chairman, Deacon Jones, ViceChairman, Denton Lee, Wayne Stewart, DeVan Barbour, Bob Dickins, and Dave TuttleSpecial Guests Senator James Speed, and Representative Leo DaughtryThe Chairmen called the meeting to order and the following business wastransactedFunding Proposal for School ConstructionBoard of Education Chairman, Kay Carroll, thanked everyone for coming andrecognized special guests, Senator James Speed and Representative Leo Daughtry Henoted the purpose of the meeting was to discuss a proposed plan for financing future schoolconstruction in Johnston County He asked Dr James Causby, Superintendent of Schools,to outline the new proposalDr Causby explained the plan would primarily depend on a 1 sales tax whichwould have to be enacted by the General Assembly and voted on by the public Currentlythere are two bills in the House of Representatives House Bill 502 that would allowstatewide local option for a 1 sales and use tax for school construction, and JohnstonCountys request for a local bill for a 1 sales tax, which was sent to our legislators inFebruaryRevenue from the 1 tax, along with low wealth funds the County anticipates fromthe State, and future use of some funds the School Board is currently receiving, wouldfinance a 20 year, 7 bond in the amount of 85 Million dollars The Bond would besubject to approval by vote of the citizens The plan, beginning in FY 96-97, would alsoutilize State ADM money plus anticipated growth and 1 million in Capital Outlay fromthe County which has not been earmarked after FY 1995-96 Beginning in the year 2000,the plan would incorporate the money currently being used to service the bond on the FourOaks School The proposal would begin generating excess funds after the year 2001,which could become a revenue source for future constructionIn response to a question by Commissioner John M Booker concerning the 52million over atwo year period in anticipated low-wealth funds, Dr Causby stated the planwould have to be scaled down somewhat if these funds do not materialize, or if less moneyis allocated by the State The 26 million per year is based on the State appropriating100,000 million in low-wealth money statewideSenator Speed noted there is much interest in the Senate for increasing the low -wealth appropriation from the current 10 million, however, there has been nodetermination on the amount of increase The figure of 60 million has been consideredby some senatorsRepresentative Leo Daughtry discussed the proposed 1 sales and use tax optionHe stated he would promote the statewide bill with the proceeds to be distributed on a percapita basis He pointed out, however, that this will be a very difficult bill to get22passed in the General Assembly as the larger, wealthy counties will not support it Heand Senator Speed both agreed that local lobbying would be necessary for the Bill to haveany chance of approvalChairman Norman C Denning added his support for this proposal withreservations He voiced concern that the success of the plan hinges on very uncertainrevenues, approval of which must come from the State level He also questioned if the useof existing capital outlay funds might affect the School Boards upkeep and maintenanceof the other school facilities in the County He stated that, in his opinion, more of therevenue should be from the new homeowners who have created much of the school facilityproblems, and voiced disappointment that the General Assembly has shown no favor ofthe Countys request for local bills for enacting a land transfer tax and impact feesChairman Denning continued that although he has reservations, he will fullysupport the plan as it appears to be the only option that has a chance for success in theGeneral Assembly He stated he is very aware that some of the county funds this planproposes do come from ad valorem taxes, and he stressed would not endorse any measurewhich included additional ad valorem taxes as a source of revenueIn response to Chairman Dennings comment about the use of county capital outlayfunds usually reserved for facility repairs and maintenance, Chairman of the Board ofEducation, Kay Carroll, stressed that if more money from the sales tax is realized thananticipated, the Board of Education would want that 1 million to revert back to them tobe used on other capital needsIndividually, members of both boards voiced support of the proposal stating theybelieve a sales tax would be a fair tax and would receive support from the citizens Afterdiscussion, the Board of Education voted unanimously in support of the planFollowing further discussion, Commissioner Cookie Pope moved the Board ofCommissioners add their full support of the proposal as presented by Dr CausbyCommissioner Eleanor N Creech seconded the motionCommissioner John M Booker stressed that a vote of support by the Board ofCommissioners wouldbe on the plan as proposed He stated he was pleased that the Boardof Education has committed 1 million from their current county allocation to thisproposal He also voiced his support to Representative Daughtry and Senator Speed intheir efforts to get this legislation passed in the General AssemblyFollowing further discussion, the Board of Commissioners voted unanimously insupport of the funding proposal as presentedThere being no further business, Commissioner John M Booker moved the Boardadjourn Commissioner Cookie Pope seconded the motion, which carried by unanimousvote?4m q 15itouQ, MZDetailsAnnotationsEntry PropertiesModified11192013 24550 PMCreated4152003 92013 AMTemplateMinutesFieldsMinutes - TypeSpecialMinutes - Date5291995Book20