032718wsmHARNETT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Minutes of Work Session
March 27, 2018
The Harnett County Board of Commissioners met in work session on Tuesday, March 27, 2018,
in Conference Room A, County Administration Building, 420 McKinney Parkway, Lillington,
North Carolina.
Members present:
Gordon Springle, Chairman
Howard Penny, Vice Chairman
Barbara McKoy, Commissioner
Joe Miller, Commissioner
Member absent: Abe Elmore, Commissioner
Staff present: Paula Stewart, Interim County Manager
Dwight Snow, County Attorney
Allen Coats, Deputy Finance Officer
Margaret Regina Wheeler, Clerk
Chairman Springle called the meeting to order at 9:00 am. Chairman Springle led the Pledge of
Allegiance and invocation.
The following agenda was before the Board:
> Meeting with the Board of Education
> Closed session
> Harnett County Schools Funding
> Harnett County Debt Capacity
➢ State School Construction Bonds — HB866/SB542
➢ 2018-19 Priorities for new construction/renovations/maintenance
> Old Benhaven Elementary School
> County Manager's Report:
- April 2, 2018 Regular Meeting Agenda Review
- Invitations and upcoming meetings
> Closed Session
➢ Adjourn
The following Harnett County Board of Education members and staff joined the meeting:
Bill Morris, Chairman
Eddie Jaggers Vice -Chairman
Vivian Bennett, Board Member
Roger Farina, Board Member
Jason Lemons, Board Member
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Aaron Fleming, Interim Superintendent
Brooks Matthews, Assistant Superintendent
Charles Bullock, School Board Attorney
Tammy Magill, Finance Officer
Terry Byrd, Clerk
Chairman Morris called the Board of Education meeting to order and moved that they go into
closed session.
Vice Chairman Penny moved that the Board go into closed session for the following purposes:
1) To assist in the formulation of plans by the Harnett County Board of Education
relating to the emergency response to incidents of school violence; and
2) To discuss and instruct the County staff concerning the position to be taken by the
County in negotiating the material terms of a proposed contract for the acquisition of
real property.
This motion is made pursuant to N.C. General Statute Section 143-318.11(a)(8)&(5).
Commissioner Miller seconded the motion that passed 4-0.
Commissioner McKoy moved that the Board come out of closed session. Vice Chairman Penny
seconded the motion that passed 4-0.
Mr. Coats presented the following information:
1) Education Capital Funding, Funding Formula Proposals
Proposed Solution: Establish a funding formula based upon a percentage of the prior
fiscal years net Article 39 (General Fund) sales tax collections. By using the net sales tax,
the funding will remain more consistent than in prior years and should enable the schools
to better plan for these items. The FY 2018-2019 capital appropriation to the schools
would be $896,881 if 20% allocation is used.
Note: The Sales Tax Expansion ($3.8 million) is not proposed for use in the capital
funding. The portion of these funds that represent education will be used toward the
current expense funding of the $1,500 teacher supplement. For FY 2018, this amount was
projected at $2,199,000.
2) Current Expense Funding, History Funding History
Proposed solution: For budget year 2019, include all "current expense" items listed for
the 2018 adjusted budget in one current expense account that will be paid each month on a
1/12 basis.
For teacher supplements, it has been the desire of the Harnett County Board of
Commissioners to remain abreast of the number and type of school staffing personnel. To
continue tracking the school personnel count, the budget ordinance will be modified. The
Public School Personnel Summary count will remain but is proposed to read Teacher's
Supplement: The currant expense appropriation includes an approximated $1,500
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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supplement for classroom teachers employed for at least one year as of September 1 St of
the current fiscal year, based upon the latest known Public School Personnel Summary as
provided by the NC Department of Public Instruction. Article 44 Restricted Sales Tax
Expansion Funds will be used to offset this appropriation.
Staff clarified that capital funding does not impact low -wealth calculation. Discussions
continued. Dr. Fleming said consistency in capital funding would be good but shared his
concerns about their ability to come back and ask for additional funds for emergency repairs.
The expectation is that the Board of Education will prioritize their needs accordingly once they
receive their capital appropriation. Superintendent Fleming said he would provide a yearly
summary of these expenses.
Mr. Coats briefly reviewed the Debt Affordability Analysis material, provided by the County's
financial advisors Davenport & Company, detailing Harnett County's debt capacity.
Mrs. Stewart asked if the boards were interested in approving a joint resolution supporting The
Public School Building Bond Act (State School Construction Bonds — HB866/SB542) to place a
$1.9 billion school construction bond on the ballot in November 2018. Staff disturbed a NCACC
information flyer and said Harnett County would get a little over $50 Million, with a matching
grant dollar for dollar. It was the consensus of the Harnett County Board of Commissioners and
the Harnett County Board of Education to consider approval of a joint resolution supporting
legislation to place the school construction bond on the ballot.
Superintendent Fleming presented Harnett County School's 2018-19 priorities for new
construction, renovations and maintenance. He said they need to start looking at some type of
new bus facility for their transportation staff, due to growth, and are open to discussing a joint
venture. Superintendent Fleming also noted additional current expense requests are forthcoming.
Mr. Morris said the Board of Education has not yet discussed giving the old Benhaven
Elementary school property to County. He said they don't have any plans for it unless maybe
Early College. Superintendent Fleming talked about options for Early College. Mrs. Stewart
said the County is interested in up -fitting Benhaven with current funds before it is transferred.
Commissioner McKoy asked if the Board of Education has discussed or addressed redistricting.
She said she doesn't understand why seats aren't being filled and wondered about the safety of
having so many students in huts. Board of Education members responded and discussions
continued. Mrs. Bennett said she wants ORAD to do a county -wide study to identify needs.
Chairman Springle asked that the Board of Education to look at schools that they can continue to
upgrade and make more efficient. Mr. Matthews responded that they have had Duke Energy
walk through some facilities to identify cost -savings options. Commissioners stressed the need
to do what can be done with what we have and only build when absolutely necessary.
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Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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Chairman Springle also said they need to meet with Harnett Regional Water to talk about
hooking several schools up to sewer. Vice Chairman Penny asked, on behalf of Commissioner
Elmore, why North Carolina bricks were not used on the new Benhaven School.
At 11:30 am the Board of Education members adjourned and left the meeting.
Mrs. Stewart reviewed the proposed April 2, 2018 regular meeting agenda. She also reviewed
invitations and upcoming meetings. Mrs. Stewart sought direction from the Board regarding the
Board of Education's capital request for the transfer of $50,255.43 for the remainder of their
projects for this fiscal year. Commissioners will consider approval of the Harnett County Board
of Education's request for $50,256 of additional funds for the completion of their 2017-2018
capital projects during their upcoming regular meeting.
Chairman Springle reminded commissioners of the upcoming interviews for County Manager.
He also updated the group on interviews for a Director for Harnett County Cooperative
Extension. Mrs. Stewart reported that Lonnette Marsh with NC A&T Extension Administration
has said that they are willing to fund the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
(EFNEP) position at 50% for another year.
Commissioner Miller left the meeting.
Commissioner McKoy moved that the Board go into closed session to discuss and instruct the
County staff concerning the position to be taken by the County in negotiating the material terms
of a proposed contract for the acquisition of real property. This motion is made pursuant to N.C.
General Statute Section 143-318.11(a)(5). Vice Chairman Penny seconded the motion, which
passed 3-0.
Commissioner McKoy moved that the Board come out of closed session. Vice Chairman Penny
seconded the motion that passed 3-0.
Vice Chairman Penny moved to adjourn the meeting at 12:50 pm. Commissioner McKoy
seconded the motion that passed 3-0.
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March 27, 2018 Work Session Minutes
Harnett County Board of Commissioners
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