HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93011_0341Pertaining to the above figures on the school system's fund balance, Yarborough said the
audited amount was $2,953,637. He said the county's records reflected only one budget transfer
out of fund balance, and this was for $583,448 leaving $2,496,578. Mr. Yarborough questioned
what happened to the $457,059. He said the county had asked what the school system had in its
current fund balance, but nothing had been submitted.
Yarborough said that in regards to Ms. Majestic's usage of charts showing the county
property rates in nearby counties, these were difficult to gauge statistically, because of
revaluations. He said the state's 100 counties were divided into eight groups, and an octennial
revaluation schedule had been established for them.
Attorney Yarborough said the school superintendent had previously indicated that the
system had cut $1.2 million from its budget. Yarborough said the system was still providing a
basic uniform level of education.
Yarborough said only a few people would be making money if the dispute went to the
court, and he preferred for the matter to be settled outside the trial courts. He said, "It's better to
take things into consideration than to take them into court." He ended his remarks by using the
adage, "Never go to law: If you win you lose, and if you lose you are lost."
He requested that the board of education members withdraw their case.
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Mediator Tyndall asked Ms. Majestic if she had any further remarks. She replied no.
School Board Comments
Board of Education Member David Parker then made the following remarks.
1. The economic forecast for this area is high. In local retail sales there is a 10 to 14%
projected annual growth. High growth is also expected in the school population;
however, the county predicts low growth, both in property and sales taxes.
2. The Hoke County residents have a willingness to pay for their schools, since the
tax rate is 74¢ (effective tax rate of 67¢).
3. The two attorneys involved in the proceeding are from out -of -county. (Parker said he
resented having to pay the fees, especially for out -of -county attorneys.)
4. The pie charts showing the appropriations to the schools are misleading, because "the
problem is not with the size of the bite, it's the size of the apple that is the problem."
5. The commissioners and school board should have a joint or shared vision. (There
should be a facilities plan to show what was needed and how to get there financially.)
Mr. Parker said the parties had an opportunity to save additional attorney fees by not
taking the dispute to court.
Dr. Cash referred to G.S. 115-426 and mentioned there was a phrase that said the county
would appropriate funding to schools within its financial resources and within the fiscal policies
drawn up by the commissioners for the schools. He said the statistics showed that the county
was 14`h in the state, as far as county resources, and the fiscal policy over the past few years was
to provide for growth plus five percent. Cash said that only in April or May did the school
system learn the five percent would not occur during the upcoming year. He said the school
board had made a modest and conservative budget request. Dr. Cash said, "We have made many
requests in the past to have joint meetings with the commissioners because we need a long-term
plan."
Dr. Brucie Serene said Attorney Yarborough's presentation showed many county
comparisons regarding school funding. She said the comparisons seemed to say that Iredell
should set its goals on the status of poorer counties. Serene said Iredell County was far from
being poor, and the citizens needed a school system that reflected a higher status.
If