[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6658413,"mediaKeyId","5021251-b52e9025f3ff45de2bed98abc96f1511","parentId",5021251,"title","Votes at a glance: Lee County approves community college bond, public safety warehouse ordinance, fire district budgets and municipal planning contract","audioSeconds",2986,"startMs",5766000,"endMs",8752000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5021251-b52e9025f3ff45de2bed98abc96f1511&start=5766&end=8752","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5021251-b52e9025f3ff45de2bed98abc96f1511/thumbnail_5766000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6658413/Lee-County/North-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Lee-County-approves-community-college-bond-public-safety-warehouse-ordinance-fire-district-budgets-and-municipal-planning-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658413-96a75496e34b2ffc055e3f710b8e2fbc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156831&Signature=E8HWyn0tNs6EJC8PswjSbuwSD0pmsMDwdBZp1QsorxjrVZf98xgzU3kijGJ~zOcfrWsFLW3itsXfCjKzyr3NgQvXkjylWdASMWEK2ZLMXQV3lyimBZoX8IZpUpaCaJ5xgf7U4plq6Lny5p7jdTm08nDLKlsiWRcvcyKMV3YP3tBszZUUXyQY7jeeY0EY2Ic0JHanvSf5H069MSEyhgTSvNtXISIdpwMCvbCNUQ0AZwU6SI~82KILUQksFMCjYjWYBOyyOxPY4wzFQFpmfdA4GdTJAaZea3nN~Ayja5oPq3Sw6GJxdCAxk5q7eo3tbAPwvPTIgqif~xt3Gcwp0J0owQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lee County","date","2025-06-18T13:30:13Z","article","The Lee County Board of Commissioners recorded several formal approvals on June 16, 2025. The following is a concise summary of the actions taken, the amounts involved when specified, and relevant procedural notes.

Key approvals

- Central Carolina Community College financing: The board approved a resolution authorizing financing of improvements to community college facilities through the issuance of a not-to-exceed $3,820,000 limited obligation bond. County staff presented the resolution and included the bond purchase agreement and supplemental trust agreement in the meeting packet. The resolution was adopted by vote during old business.

- Public safety warehouse capital project ordinance: The board approved a capital project ordinance to acquire and renovate a public safety warehouse (\"Colts facility\"). County staff said the ordinance used a $7.5 million figure from the capital improvements program as a placeholder while final purchase and renovation costs are developed. The board voted to place the project on the books and move forward with next steps.

- Funding for City of Sanford planning services: The board approved funding $768,601 for a contract with the City of Sanford for planning services for FY2025-26. The agreement was described as a 55/45 split with the city; Lee County pays 45% of the $768,601 total. Commissioner Sharp recused from the vote because of employment with the City of Sanford; the recusal was recorded before the vote.

- Fire district budget ordinance: Following a public hearing, the board approved the fire district budget ordinance for fiscal year 2025-26 as recommended by the advisory board. Staff said the ordinance was prepared on the advisory board's recommendations and emphasized that a vote to waive the board's policy (to allow same-day voting) had been made earlier in the meeting when appropriate.

- Boards and commissions appointments: The board completed appointments to multiple advisory bodies and boards. Notable outcomes recorded in the meeting minutes: Connie Tucker was selected to the library board of trustees (narrowly over a reapplicant), Chad Spivey was reappointed to the parks and recreation advisory board after the board waived a two-term restriction for that seat, and multiple applicants were appointed to the agriculture advisory board, planning board, and other advisory groups. The clerk read a list of all appointees near the end of the meeting.

Procedural notes

- Recusal: Commissioner Sharp recused from the vote on the City of Sanford planning services contract because he is an employee of the City of Sanford; the board recorded the recusal prior to the vote.

- Placeholders and follow-up: For the public safety warehouse project staff said the $7.5 million figure is a placeholder; the board approved an ordinance to proceed with acquisition and renovation work while staff continues to refine costs and options (staff had previously researched available properties and evaluated lease and purchase options).

What the board did not specify in the meeting record: For several votes the transcript does not include a roll-call vote count in the public record excerpt provided. The meeting packet and official minutes recorded for filing should include the formal tallies and final signed documents.

Ending note: The package of approvals advances several capital and operational efforts, including workforce training space at Central Carolina Community College, public safety storage and logistics, and routine county planning support through the City of Sanford contract. The board directed staff to continue refining project costs and to return with additional details as needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lee County Board of Commissioners Meeting - June 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Lee County Board of Commissioners recorded several formal approvals on June 16, 2025, including a not-to-exceed $3.82 million limited obligation bond for Central Carolina Community College and a capital project ordinance for a public safety warehouse.","taxTitle","Lee County, North Carolina","taxId",55520,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6658417,"Lee County adopts FY2025-26 budget after heated public hearing focused on school funding",3131,922000,4053000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5021251-b52e9025f3ff45de2bed98abc96f1511&start=922&end=4053","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5021251-b52e9025f3ff45de2bed98abc96f1511/thumbnail_922000.jpg","/articles/6658417/Lee-County/North-Carolina/Lee-County-adopts-FY2025-26-budget-after-heated-public-hearing-focused-on-school-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6658417-53eca6709869e17f823be26426d827eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156831&Signature=hH2cqUT5GBNyK5N~9XlNr39QsEN5e3pPZhXg3x0TmiyLPX-qHjs5ZeTZmWske9jfIIi1ZtS8TWm0xwl~-yqU8Odc8vWOQt87Tgns3wfSEjQubTaAwcn4mSIbCXCEQ5yPW3txysM7tr1h1jek6TncRxj6SqRuI5P-2opgcX~s79BYQ8YJRsiHy~EeZ-6w7MH-yQBPhHpPjGQwbLcq~5NakEbRq~YR0XeFYUqlta9lTiBiQIU0T1jbimmcVn930DDNSXZC8D7CJPgvn1bzV2JHoXi9D-RIO4D8wrMkHArlhoIsQDY-sfojoKYCHRS8UrYEt9Pn~8CmZss4EHJsbZsIpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lee County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt the county's fiscal year 2025-26 budget following a public hearing in which dozens of residents, school officials and nonprofit leaders called for larger investments in public education and county services.

At a public hearing opened by the board on June 16, dozens of speakers urged the commissioners to increase support for Lee County Schools, citing staffing shortages, teacher pay and the impacts of growth on school capacity. Many speakers tied school funding to broader community outcomes such as public safety, economic development and health.

Why it matters: The budget sets county spending priorities for the next year and determines how much local funding the school system, fire districts and nonprofits receive. Several speakers said the proposed budget fell short of those priorities and urged commissioners to restore or increase allocations for classrooms, classified staff and community services.

The hearing drew long remarks from school system supporters. Alan Rummel, who identified himself as a taxpayer and parent, told commissioners the schools had made measurable improvements and urged the board to \"step up and make the investment required to sustain it.\" A former and current Lee County teacher who identified her last name as Krivensky recounted classroom experience and said low pay was pushing experienced teachers to neighboring districts. Kayla Wibalda, president of the Lee County Association of Educators, said, \"Public education does the public good\" and asked the board to make all students a priority.

Lee County Schools' superintendent, speaking at the public hearing, warned the proposed county allocation \"covers survival, not progress,\" and asked commissioners not to approve the proposed budget as presented. Sherry Lynn Womack, chair of the Lee County Board of Education, told the commission: \"There is a war against traditional public schools ... It's time we stop applauding their resilience and start funding with reality.\"

Nonprofit and community voices also addressed the budget. Mary Murphy of Boys and Girls Club of Central Carolina thanked the board for a recommended grant but emphasized the organization relies on fundraising for roughly 75% of its budget. Representatives of Helping Hand Clinic outlined the clinic's role serving uninsured residents and asked the board to restore previously recommended funding.

Board action and process: Before voting on the budget ordinance, the commissioners unanimously waived a board policy that normally prohibits voting on the same day as a public hearing. The board then voted to approve the FY2025-26 budget ordinance later in the meeting. Several commissioners publicly urged further review before final action; Commissioner Martin and Commissioner Knecht asked that staff re-examine the budget to identify possible savings, and the board directed human resources to undertake a pay-study review for detention officers to assess long-term costs (see clarifying details).

Direct quotes and context:
- \"We are not asking for excess. We are asking for enough,\" Lee County Schools Superintendent (unnamed in transcript) told the board.
- \"Public education does the public good,\" said Kayla Wibalda, president of the Lee County Association of Educators.
- \"This grant will allow us to continue providing a safe and supportive environment for children to learn, grow, and thrive,\" Mary Murphy of Boys and Girls Club of Central Carolina said about a recommended grant.

What the budget does and does not do: The meeting record shows commissioners discussed capital projects (including a new athletic park and library) and recurring staffing costs. Several commissioners emphasized a desire to avoid a tax increase, and at least one commissioner said they would redirect their own commission salary for FY2025-26 toward school needs. The record includes comparisons to neighboring counties and differing interpretations of per-pupil spending figures; county staff provided per-pupil numbers during the hearing but speakers debated their meaning and implications.

Next steps: Commissioners who asked for further review said they would revisit the budget details before full implementation; the board also asked staff to prepare longer-term analyses of staffing and detention pay to inform future budgets. The budget ordinance was adopted at the June 16 meeting after the public hearing and vote.

Ending note: The public hearing on the budget brought a sustained turnout of residents and school employees. Speakers repeatedly framed the choice as one between investing now to support students and staff or risking long-term costs to the community.
","The Lee County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt the county's fiscal year 2025-26 budget following a public hearing in which dozens of residents, school officials and nonprofit leaders called for larger investments in public education and county services.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Lee County approves community college bond, public safety warehouse ordinance, fire district budgets and municipal planning contract

Lee County adopts FY2025-26 budget after heated public hearing focused on school funding