LUMBERTON — Proposed legislation that would make available $2.03 billion for the construction and maintenance of schools was hailed Wednesday as welcome news in Robeson County.

County school board Chairman Mike Smith said he is unfamiliar with the Building N.C’s Future Act, which was unveiled Wednesday, but liked what he was hearing.

“We will be receptive to any help we can get to build new schools,” Smith said.

The act would provide money from the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund to “meet the growing need for construction of new schools and maintenance of existing schools,” according to a statement from Senate Leader Phil Berger.

Rep. Charles Graham said he welcomes the introduction of the act, as he would any legislation that makes money available for the construction of new schools. He also will support the proposed legislation, but he has questions.

“What is our share of these funds? What is Robeson County’s share?” Graham said.

The Lumberton Democrat also has concerns about how the money would be made available and how quickly.

“We really need to put an emphasis on building new schools, and I will be working in the General Assembly to do that,” Graham said.

Berger’s statement does not answer Graham’s questions and concerns. Attempts by The Robesonian to get more information from the bill’s co-sponsor Sen. Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth, were unsuccessful.

The other sponsors are Sens. Harry Brown, R-Onslow, and Kathy Harrington, R-Gaston.

The legislation calls for the allocation of an additional 0.5 percent to the State Capital and Infrastructure Fund, created in 2017, from the General Fund tax revenue each year, and to dedicate one-third of the fund to K-12 schools capital, according to Berger’s news release. The remaining two-thirds of the fund would be divided equally between the University of North Carolina system, community colleges and state agencies.

“This change will result in $2.03 billion in dedicated funding for K-12 schools capital over the next nine years, with zero interest payments,” the release reads in part.

Talk of building new schools in Robeson County heated up in 2016 when a plan was floated to close 30 schools and build 14. The plan had the support of the county Board of Commissioners, but was never embraced by the school board.

Proponents said that the county could save as much as $18 million a year through reduced maintenance cost, fewer staff and by not having an energy bill at the schools, which would have been powered by solar energy. The commissioners said they would make up the cost of about $5 million between the savings and the mortgage for the schools.

The plan died when necessary legislation in Raleigh was not passed.

More recently the school system has been trying to get traction on building a school to replace West Lumberton Elementary, which was flooded during Hurricane Matthew. The system has contracted a study that would show where schools would be needed depending on population trends.

The last time a new school was built in the county was in the mid-1980s.

Rep. Brenden Jones, a Republican from Tabor City, said Wednesday he had not yet reviewed the proposed school funding Act and that he supports House Speaker Tim Moore’s school bond proposal because it prioritizes schools that desperately need additional funding.

“As evidence of the speaker’s visit to Columbus County last week, we are continuing to gather ideas from local stakeholders in an attempt to craft a bill that has a broad range of support,” Jones said. “I look forward to working with the Senate and my House colleagues on this critical issue.”

Moore is pitching a $1.9 billion bond bill to his legislative colleagues and the people of North Carolina. His goal is to file the legislation in the General Assembly this year and have a referendum on the ballot in 2020 so the voters could decide.

The bond legislation would provide $1.3 billion for K-12 capital construction needs. An additional $300 million would be granted for UNC institutions and another $300 million for community college facility needs.

State Superintendent Mark Johnson has come out in support of the bond proposal, according to Moore.

Smith
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Jones
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Graham
https://www.robesonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_Charles-Graham-1.jpgGraham

T.C. Hunter

Managing editor

Reach T.C. Hunter by calling 910-816-1974 or via email at [email protected].