HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_0337 (2)NCGS §115C-501. purposes for which elections maybe called
(a) To Vote a Supplemental Tax — Elections may be called by the local tax -levying authority to
ascertain the will of the voters as to whether there shall be levied and collected a special tax in the
several local school administrative units, districts, and other school areas, including districts formed from
contiguous counties, to supplement the funds from State and county allotments and thereby operate
schools of a higher standard by supplementing any item of expenditure in the school budget.
Yarborough said Attorney Majestic and Supt. Holliday wanted to operate a "superior"
educational system at a higher level than was afforded across the state. He said the school system already
had a method to achieve a different level, and this could be pursued by using state law (G.S. 115C-501).
Yarborough said the local board of education could petition the board of commissioners for a
supplemental tax election. Yarborough said that when someone talked about suing another party because
the level of funding was not as high as they would like, they needed to exhaust the electoral process. He
said that if the people of Iredell County wanted to operate at a "higher standard," the issue needed to go
before them and not the courts. He said, "If they want a Cadillac, let them vote for a Cadillac."
NCGS §115C-503. Who may petition for election
Local boards of education may petition the board of county commissioners for an election in their
respective local school administrative units or for any school areas therein
Yarborough said Chief Justice Bobbitt had previously made the following ruling, but it
summed up the points he was trying to make. The ruling is as follows:
Supreme Court ojNorth Carolina
'We appreciate the desire of the County Superintendent and of the Board of Education to provide
for the operation of the schools of the county according to standards higher than is possible by the use of
State funds alone for current expenses in the conduct of the school program. If the qualified voters share
this desire, the procedure is provided whereby supplemental funds may be authorized for such purpose
and provided through county ad valorem taxation." (Board of Education of Onslow County v. Board of
County Commissioners of Onslow County)
Yarborough then shared the following charts that were compiled by the North Carolina
Association of County Commissioners. (The charts show the 2003-2004 county appropriations
the sc