Agenda - 02-12-2004-6 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Another topic that was discussed on November 11 th was, both Commissioners Brown and Jacobs talked about the possibility of convening an educational excellence evaluation group, and I'm sure the Board will talk a little bit about that. Another theme that was discussed as part of those proposals, primarily Commissioner Jacobs, was a school efficiency study that would be aimed at assessing and providing reassurance, I guess, to the community and the Commissioners, and other interested parties that the appropriations that the County Commissioners were making for education now were being well and efficiently spent. What's new in this blue sheet primarily falls in that area This is some additional information that the County Attorney has pulled together that talks in a little bit more detail than what we had in the original abstract last week about what the statutory provisions are in the North Carolina law for the allocation of current expense funding, for example, by Boards of County Commissioners towards purpose or functions or projects within school budgets. And again, I'm sure Geoff can respond to any questions that you might have about those details. Another major element of research that the County Commissioners asked was for a thorough assessment and presentation on the workings of the countywide supplemental tax. And Geoff likewise has done the work on that. There was a letter prepared that covered some topics that weren't addressed in previous letters that Geof has written over the years on issues that relate to district taxes. So that information was provided for the Board's information as well. The last topic that you probably wanted addressed since, in some regard, is the proposal contained in Commissioner Carey's proposal from November 11'h about the timing for making sort of a yes or no decision about whether or not to proceed with merger. So that describes the materials that you have. I guess one more thing I would add is that in addition to the information that Geoff provided about the statutory workings of allocation by funding. There's two red attachments here that are referred to in the abstract, and they basically provide some information about the uniform school budget format that's required of school boards throughout the State of North Carolina, and also some more statutory provisions that are relevant about amendments to those school budgets. So, with that, I'll stop and invite any questions the Commissioners may have Commissioner Brown: I'd be interested in the analysis of what Geof came forward and brought to us in this. Reading the legal material, it is not perfectly clear to me. Geof Gledhill: Which area are you talking about? Chair Jacobs: Educational funding. Geof Gledhill: What was added to the abstract related to educational funding is the notion that rather than appropriating a lump sum to the schools each year for current expense money, the Board of Commissioners is empowered to appropriate by purpose and function. And one of the attachments, Attachment X, gives an example of the degree of division, I guess, that's contemplated in that law. The other point that was added to the agenda information was the notion that the efficiency study that has been proposed by one or more of the County Commissioners fits in with the power granted counties to request and obtain information from the schools with respect to actually just about anything going on in the schools. And in that regard, the County Commissioners can request and the boards of education are required to provide books, records, audit reports, and other information bearing on the financial operation of the local school administrative unit. I-�