Agenda 12-04-23; 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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15 1 single Board member, and a combined increase of $71,088 per year for all Board members 2 together, including the higher rates for the two Board leadership positions. 3 4 It is proposed that this become effective January 1, 2024, after the November 2023 Board of 5 Education election, including the new Board's selection of Chair and Vice Chair for 2024. As it 6 reflects an expense allowance, North Carolina General Statute (NCGS) 115C-38 requires Board 7 of County Commissioners' approval, consistent with the procedures described in NCGS 153A- 8 92, before it can go into effect. 9 10 Under North Carolina General Statute 115C-38, and per the authority set in North Carolina 11 General Statute 153A-92, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) sets the compensation of 12 board of education members annually during the budget approval process: 13 14 "The tax-levying authority for a local school administrative unit may, under the procedures of 15 G.S. 153A-92, fix the compensation and expense allowances paid members of the board of 16 education of that local school administrative unit. Funds for the per diem, subsistence, and 17 mileage for all meetings of county and city boards of education shall be provided from the 18 current expense fund budget of the particular county or city. The compensation and expense 19 allowances of members of boards of education shall continue at the same levels as paid on 20 July 1, 1975, until changed by or pursuant to local act or pursuant to this section." 21 22 Based on this, the Manager recommends the Board of Commissioners consider the new monthly 23 stipend rates of $1,118 per month for CHCCS Board members, $1,263 for the CHCCS Board 24 Vice Chair and $1,409 for the CHCCS Board Chair. The annualized cost of this action would be 25 $71,088. Funding for the remainder of FY 2023-24 could be provided through an increase in the 26 County's current expense funding towards Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools by appropriating 27 fund balance. 28 29 Bonnie Hammersley reviewed the background information for the item. She explained that 30 if new money is allocated to CHCCS for this increase, the General Fund Appropriation Policy for 31 Local School Districts requires that Orange County Schools (OCS) also recieve a funding 32 increase, resulting in a total allocation between both districts of $60,822 from the county's fund 33 balance. She noted that the Orange County Schools Board of Education does not currently want 34 to increase their board stipend rates. She said the last time there was an increase was February 35 of 2022 when CHCCS requested a 2.5% wage increase for Board of Education members. She 36 said the school district used its existing funds for this increase, so this did not result in a required 37 funding increase to OCS, whose Board of Education also did not want to increase the board 38 stipend rates at that time. 39 Chair Bedford clarified that the $60,822 would double the next budget cycle since this 40 calculation is only for half of a fiscal year. 41 Bonnie Hammersley said that is correct. 42 Commissioner Portie-Ascott asked if CHCCS currently has the funds 43 Bonnie Hammersley said the school board would have to provide the answer to that 44 question. 45 Commissioner Fowler asked what the compensation is for school boards in surrounding 46 counties. 47 Bonnie Hammersley said she doesn't have that information. 48 Commissioner McKee said if this request is approved and additional funding is allocated 49 to OCS, the Board does not have any input on how that money is used. 50 Bonnie Hammersley said the Boards of Education determine how any money provided is 51 spent.