Agenda - 09-16-2014 - 7b - Laserfiche WebLink

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1Cr: PE -4: Restore local control of school calendar. Support legislation to restore control of the local school calendar to local boards of education. The General Assembly enacted H1464 in 2004, which restricted a local board of education's ability to open schools prior to Aug. 25 or to close schools prior to June 10. It is believed that the Legislature was reacting to concerns by resort communities regarding earlier school openings, which in turn shortened the summer vacation season and reduced the teen labor force for the service industries. The State Board of Education was authorized to grant waivers based on the number of weather - related closures historically experienced or for good cause based on educational purposes. In 2012, the General Assembly further restricted LEA school calendar control, by eliminating start /end date waivers based on educational purposes. PE:S: Authorize the option for counties to acquire, own and construct traditional public school sites and facilities. (added at Legislative Goals Conference). Support legislation to authorize counties the option to acquire, own and construct traditional public school sites and facilities. N.C. counties are statutorily responsible for funding the construction, renovation, and maintenance of all school facilities, but schools retain title and ownership of school facilities. This divergence of funding versus ownership requires administrative work- arounds to obtain sales tax refunds on school construction materials and results in an imbalance of liabilities to assets, as county- issued school debt shows as a liability on the county's financial statement, while the building increases the LEA's assets. Tax & Finance Legislative Goals TF -1: Preserve the existing local revenue base. Support legislation that recognizes the importance of county revenues and ensures that the existing tax base is maintained and preserved. During the current recession, one of the means used by the General Assembly to balance the state budget has been to shift some local funds to state use and make cuts in some county programs. For example, in 2009 -10, the General Assembly diverted to the state's general fund the portion of the Corporate Income Tax that was dedicated to school construction, costing counties approximately $200 million for the biennium. For 2010 -11, the General Assembly reduced the county share of lottery proceeds by $63 million. Counties also saw numerous state cuts to county programs approaching $75 million in 2009 -10 alone. Counties face similar revenue declines as that experienced by the state and cannot afford to sacrifice any additional revenues to the state. TF -2: Oppose unfunded mandates and shifts of state responsibilities to counties. Oppose legislation that establishes new or expanded state mandates without a commensurate increase in state resources to support service provision. A continuing difficult state financial status may increase the likelihood of attempts to balance the state budget by shifting more responsibilities to counties without corresponding funds. TF -3: Authorize local revenue options. Seek legislation to allow all counties to enact by resolution or, at the option of the Board of Commissioners, by voter referendum, any or all revenue options from among those that have been authorized for any other county. Several counties have access to certain revenues, such as prepared meals taxes, occupancy taxes, and land transfer taxes, that are not available to other